Explanation:

A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small solar system body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth.
NEOs include more than fifteen thousand near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and more than one hundred near- Earth comets (NECs).
Learning: NEOShield has the primary goal to perform Scientific Research and Technical Development, so as to reduce the risk of a NEO deflection mission from failing.
The second NEOShield focuses on refining Near NEO characterisation. NEOShield-2 will carry out astronomical observations of NEOs, firstly to improve our understanding of their physical properties, concentrating on the smaller sizes of most concern for mitigation purposes, and secondly to identify further objects suitable for missions for physical characterisation and NEO deflection demonstration.