Canada is set to launch the first dedicated space satellite to watch for near-Earth objects (Vancouver Sun). The question is: do we really need one?

A number of Earth-bound telescopes are already used to spot and track near-Earth objects (NEO), including under the auspices of Nasa’s NEO Project. Commentators in New Scientist argue that the space-based telescope (called NEOSSat) will have better luck spotting asteroids that are within Earth orbit: these also tend to stay in line with the Sun, meaning they are only visible in the sky close to sunset or sunrise, when background light tends to drown them out. But they are also more likely to hit us, the article says.

But ground-based satellites can spot these too, even if it is a little harder. Alan Harris of the Space Science Institute in Boulder Colorado, US, told New Scientist he doesn’t think the project will add too much to what’s already available.

But hey, it’s only costing $10 million. And statistically Canada (the second largest country after Russia) has a lot of area sitting waiting to be struck by an asteroid, so maybe that makes them keen to get in on the game… even if there aren’t that many people actually living in most of it.