Don Quijote : An ESA mission for the assessment of the NEO threat

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that impacts Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) could trigger a catastrophe that might have consequences at a global scale. In July 2002 the General Studies Programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) provided funding for preliminary studies of six space missions that could make significant contributions to our knowledge of the NEOs and the threat the represent to life on Earth. This was the first time ever that the full range of NEO space systems were explored and assessed in detail within the scope of a single activity. Following the completion and presentation of these studies, the ESA Near-Earth Object Mission Advisory Panel (NEOMAP) was established in January 2004. NEOMAP was charged with the task of advising ESA on the most effective options for ESA participation in a space mission to contribute to the assessment of the NEO impact hazard and pave the way for the definition of effective impact mitigation strat egies. This paper summarizes the final recommendations of the panel and provides an overview of the selected concept, the Don Quijote space mission.