In July 2026, specialists conducted an inspection of a large sunshield for NASA's NEO Surveyor space telescope in a clean room at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems in Boulder, Colorado. The telescope is designed to search for near-Earth asteroids and comets. The sunshield was installed on a special mounting ring for detailed inspection of its structure. The sunshield has impressive dimensions: approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in height and 2.4 meters (8 feet) in width at its base. The structure includes two flat panels that serve a protective function, shielding the telescope's sensitive instruments from heating caused by solar radiation. The NEO Surveyor mission is being developed by NASA to detect potentially dangerous asteroids and comets that may approach Earth at hazardous distances. The infrared telescope will be able to detect objects that are difficult to observe using ground-based observatories, especially those approaching from the direction of the Sun. The sunshield plays a critical role in the spacecraft's operation, as it provides the necessary cooling for the infrared detectors, protecting them from the thermal radiation of the Sun and the telescope's own structure. The inspection in Boulder is part of the integration and testing process for components before the telescope's final assembly. BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems is one of NASA's contractors for creating structural elements of the mission. After completion of all inspections and tests, the sunshield will be integrated with the other systems of the spacecraft in preparation for launch.