Scientists in Pasadena, California are eagerly awaiting the close encounter with the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis in 2029. This rare event will see Apophis pass by Earth at a distance closer than 20,000 miles, which is ten times closer than the Moon. When Apophis was first discovered in 2004, it was classified as a hazardous asteroid due to the possibility of impacting Earth. However, further observations have ruled out any chance of a collision for at least another century.
Measuring 1,100 feet wide, Apophis poses a significant threat if it were to strike our planet, as objects of this size typically impact Earth every 80,000 years, causing extensive damage and global impacts. Scientists are eager to study Apophis during its Earth flyby to determine the effects of Earth’s gravitational field on the asteroid’s orientation, composition, and spin. Any physical changes to Apophis could potentially alter its orbital path, making it crucial for scientists to document these observations.
Private space companies such as Blue Origin and Exploration Labs have put forth proposals for missions to rendezvous with Apophis before its close encounter in 2029. Blue Origin’s proposal involves using the Blue Ring orbital platform to deliver payloads to Apophis. This platform is designed to offer services to both commercial and government customers and can accommodate payloads weighing up to 6,600 pounds.
Exploration Labs presented the Distributed Radar Observations of Interior Distributions (DROID) mission concept, which aims to send a spacecraft to Apophis to perform a “CAT scan” of the asteroid’s interior using two cubesats. NASA has also sought innovative mission approaches for the 2029 Earth flyby of Apophis, with the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft currently en route to study the asteroid.
The Janus mission, originally set to explore a metal-rich asteroid, could potentially be repurposed to study Apophis. Although the spacecraft encountered delays, there is still an opportunity to conduct flybys and observations of Earth’s incoming visitor. Given the scientific importance and rarity of such a close encounter with Apophis, more missions may be announced in the future to further study the asteroid.
As the countdown to Apophis’ Earth flyby continues, scientists and space agencies around the world are gearing up to unlock the mysteries of this potentially hazardous asteroid and gain valuable insights into its composition and behavior. The upcoming rendezvous with Apophis presents a unique opportunity to study a celestial visitor up close and enhance our understanding of these cosmic phenomena.