NAIROBI, Kenya- On April 13, 2029, the Apophis asteroid, about the size of a skyscraper, will make a close flyby of Earth.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) to closely follow this near-Earth object during its approach.
This ambitious planetary defense mission is set to launch in April 2028, aiming to shadow Apophis and gather crucial data.
Scientists first discovered Apophis in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2021 that NASA confirmed the asteroid poses no collision threat for at least the next century.
However, it will still come within 20,000 miles of Earth, less than one-tenth the distance to the Moon.
Such a close encounter offers a rare opportunity to study an asteroid up close without the need to travel deep into space, an event that happens only once every 5,000 to 10,000 years.
Richard Moissl, head of ESA’s Planetary Defence Office, emphasized the mission’s significance: “Ramses will demonstrate that humankind can deploy a reconnaissance mission to rendezvous with an incoming asteroid in just a few years. This type of mission is a cornerstone of humankind’s response to a hazardous asteroid.”
The mission will first analyze Apophis’ orbit and structure, which could inform future strategies for redirecting asteroids or ruling out impacts.
Following Apophis’ flyby, NASA plans to deploy the Osiris-Apex mission, using the spacecraft from last year’s Osiris-Rex mission that collected samples from the Bennu asteroid.
The Osiris-Apex spacecraft is expected to reach Apophis about a month after its closest approach to Earth. This mission will focus on studying any physical changes in Apophis caused by Earth’s gravitational pull, such as quakes or landslides, to understand what lies beneath its surface.
The ESA’s decision on the Ramses mission will be finalized in late 2025, with preparatory work starting soon. Meanwhile, the Osiris-Apex mission promises to provide further insights into the asteroid’s structure.
Residents in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia may even get a chance to see Apophis with the naked eye during its historic flyby.
