A trio of missions is gearing up to explore the near-Earth asteroid Apophis during its close encounter with Earth in 2029. This 1,100-foot-wide (340 meters) asteroid is set to pass by on April 13, 2029, giving scientists a rare chance to study it up close.
One key mission is Ramses, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Monica Lazzarin, a professor at the University of Padua, shared updates on Ramses at the Europlanet Science Congress in September. This mission aims to get detailed insights into Apophis, including its orbit, rotation, and surface changes. It will also look at how gravity from Earth affects the asteroid during the flyby.
Set to launch in spring 2028, Ramses still needs funding approval from ESA’s Ministerial Council in late November. If greenlit, it will carry two cubesats—one of which may land on Apophis to gather data with its instruments.
Japan is also planning to study Apophis. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has a mission called DESTINY+ that may now encounter Apophis before heading to another asteroid, 3200 Phaethon. While there were delays with the rocket initially intended for this mission, the opportunity to study Apophis is now part of their plans.
NASA’s extended OSIRIS-APEX mission, which is heading toward Apophis, is currently facing uncertainty due to budget constraints. However, Michael Nolan, the mission’s deputy principal investigator, indicated they are still planning for the asteroid encounter.
Together, these missions aim to provide valuable data about Apophis. Coordination between the teams will maximize their observations, leading to a better understanding than any single mission could achieve alone.
What’s exciting is that on April 13, 2029, about 2 billion people will have the chance to see Apophis streaking across the sky with the naked eye. This event is not just a scientific opportunity; it’s a moment for global awe.
With all these missions working in tandem, the close encounter with Apophis promises to reveal new insights into asteroid dynamics and planetary defense.
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