The asteroid Apophis will fly closely by Earth in 2029, and the European Space Agency is working on a plan to rendezvous with the space rock two months before that encounter. The proposed mission is known as Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, or RAMSES. Its goal is to learn more about the composition of the asteroid.
On Tuesday, July 16, the agency said the study could help protect Earth from any asteroids that may be on a collision course with the planet in the future. By learning about the composition of the asteroid, researchers might learn how to deflect it or destroy it.
While Apophis is not deemed a threat to Earth, scientists said an object this large only passes by the planet once about every 7,500 years. The asteroid is reportedly about as wide as the Empire State Building is tall.
However, the clock is ticking for the European Space Agency. In order to reach the asteroid in time, scientists said they would need to launch the spacecraft by April 2028. That would get the craft to Apophis before the asteroid reaches its closest encounter with Earth in February 2029.
The agency also said that it has not yet secured funding for the project, which puts the mission in jeopardy.
If the project does move forward, scientists would monitor the unmanned spacecraft from Earth. A companion craft would be inside the vehicle. The smaller vehicle will deploy onto the asteroid to study the massive rock.
Leaders will make a final decision on the project at the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in November 2025. Preparations are already reportedly underway using existing resources.
NASA also plans to launch a vehicle toward Apophis. However, the agency said that it will be after the asteroid passes by Earth. The mission will not involve a spacecraft landing on the Apophis. Instead, NASA said, the spacecraft will orbit the asteroid.
Apophis is reportedly shaped like a peanut, and astronomers first discovered it in 2004. Initially, it was thought by astronomers that Apophis could hit Earth in 2029 or 2068. Further observations ruled out any risk to Earth for the next century, according to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.
The asteroid will come closer to Earth than satellites in its orbit and 10 times nearer than the moon. Astronomers say that it will be visible to the naked eye for around 2 billion people across most of Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.
