NASA is gearing up for an exciting mission: the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will fly close to the asteroid Apophis in 2029. After some uncertainty about funding, it just received $20 million to keep operations running for another year. This is a relief, but there’s still concern for 18 other NASA missions that might be affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, the mission’s lead at the University of Arizona, expressed gratitude over the funding news, which was shared during a recent meeting about planetary sciences. The mission’s goal is to study Apophis, a quarter-mile-wide asteroid once thought to be a potential threat to Earth. Though it will pass safely at about 22,000 miles away — close enough to be visible — future tracking is essential since it may pose a risk down the line.
The OSIRIS-APEX mission builds on the success of OSIRIS-REx, which successfully returned samples from another asteroid, Bennu, in 2020. This previous mission has proven vital for understanding our solar system’s early days.
“Apophis is one of the most exciting near-Earth asteroids we’ve discovered,” said DellaGiustina, indicating the unique opportunities this encounter provides. The mission will observe how close encounters may change asteroids, tracking shifts in rotation and possible surface landslides.
However, the mission still faces challenges. The Trump administration sought to cut NASA’s budget, leading to the potential cancellation of various projects. Although OSIRIS-APEX is temporarily safe, future funding is uncertain and will depend on yearly reviews by Congress.
While the recent funding is good news, the team did not receive much-needed financial support for ongoing research. This halt means early-career researchers can’t engage in mission planning or analysis, which could set back their professional development.
A 2022 NASA review highlighted that mentorship for younger scientists is crucial for future missions, emphasizing how many team leaders, including DellaGiustina, advanced from junior roles in previous missions.
Despite these hurdles, significant scientific progress continues. The past three years have yielded over 137 research papers linked to these missions, uncovering insights into asteroids’ structure and evolution, including surprising finds about Bennu’s makeup. Notably, recent studies suggest that Bennu’s parent body might have resembled an ocean world, underscoring the potential for discovering building blocks of life beyond Earth.
As the mission unfolds, OSIRIS-APEX represents a crucial step not just for scientific inquiry but also for our understanding of potential threats from space. Keeping this mission funded and operational is essential for humanity’s continued exploration and preparation for the future.
For more details on NASA missions, you can visit the NASA website.
