A massive asteroid, Apophis, is set to make a close approach to Earth in 2029, and the European Space Agency (ESA) is gearing up to track it every step of the way. While Apophis is not on a collision course, it will come remarkably close, passing within just 20,000 miles of our planet. This close encounter presents a unique opportunity for scientific study and planetary defense research.
ESA has received permission to launch the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses), which will send a spacecraft to rendezvous with Apophis. The Ramses mission will accompany the asteroid during its close flyby, observing its physical characteristics as Earth’s gravity exerts its influence. The data collected during this mission will provide valuable information about the asteroid’s behavior under these conditions, potentially informing future planetary defense strategies.
Researchers are particularly interested in studying how Apophis’s physical characteristics change under Earth’s strong tidal forces. These forces may cause landslides, reveal new material beneath the surface, and provide insights into the asteroid’s composition and structure.
The Ramses mission is scheduled to launch in April 2028, ensuring it can rendezvous with Apophis in February 2029, two months before its closest approach to Earth. The mission’s success hinges on meticulous preparation, as the observation window is limited.
This mission builds upon recent breakthroughs in planetary defense, including NASA’s successful test mission that demonstrated the feasibility of altering an asteroid’s trajectory. In 2022, NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid in deep space, proving that such an impact could effectively change its course.
The close encounter with Apophis presents a rare opportunity to study an asteroid up close and gain valuable data for safeguarding Earth from future potential threats. The Ramses mission promises to be a crucial step in advancing our understanding of asteroids and enhancing our capabilities to protect our planet from celestial hazards.
