Rocket company Blue Origin is developing a new mission concept to deflect asteroids before they strike Earth. The Near-Earth Objects (NEO) Hunter mission will use the company's Blue Ring platform to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids. The concept involves deploying a fleet of cubesats to rendezvous with and investigate the target asteroid, gathering data on its composition, density, and mass. The mission will also be equipped with different techniques for mitigating the asteroid threat, including directing a powerful ion beam (a concentrated stream of charged particles) at the object to change its orbit. If the asteroid becomes too large or stubborn, NEO Hunter can enter a second phase. The spacecraft platform can host payloads that weigh up to 6,600 pounds (3,000 kilograms) and can serve as a crucial pitstop for missions to the Moon.