In 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis, larger than the Eiffel Tower, will fly by Earth at a distance closer than many satellites.
Just a few years ago, it was believed that this asteroid would collide with Earth. However, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) now plan to send a spacecraft to study it closely and improve protection against similar asteroids.
ESA has announced the start of preparations for the Ramses mission, which will send a spacecraft to asteroid 99942 Apophis to collect data on its size, shape, mass and rotational dynamics. Scientists want to learn more about the asteroid’s composition, internal structure and orbit when it passes Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of 32,000 km.
Scientists say the asteroid Apophis will make a unique flyby of Earth, with a large asteroid coming this close only once every few thousand years. The approximately 370 meter wide asteroid is expected to be visible to the naked eye in the night sky.
This asteroid will fly closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites used for navigation and weather forecasting. At this distance, the asteroid will interact with Earth’s gravity, potentially changing its shape and causing landslides on its surface.
According to ESA scientists, the results of the Ramses mission will help assess the risk that such large asteroids pose to Earth. They also hope to gather information that could help fend off dangerous asteroids from colliding with Earth. If such an asteroid were to strike Earth, it could cause a global catastrophe.
The asteroid Apophis was discovered in 2004 and was initially believed to be on a collision course with Earth in 2029. Just three years ago, scientists confirmed that no large asteroid would collide with Earth for the next hundred years. They believe the Ramses mission will help predict how likely the asteroid Apophis is to impact Earth for many centuries to come.
Although preparations for the mission have already begun, the final decision on its launch will be made before the end of 2025. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will be launched to the asteroid in early 2028.
