The European Space Agency (ESA)’s awarded three study contracts under Phase A of its Near-Earth Object (NEO) deflecting mission dubbed Don Quijote. Although the risk of a large asteroid colliding with Earth is small, three European companies will study ways to prevent such an event from occurring.

Teams led by Alcatel Alenia Space, EADS Astrium and Qinetiq will prepare studies for ESA, which will review the results beginning in October.

Don Quijote is scheduled to be launched in 2011.