The European Space Agency (ESA) has endorsed the United Nations’ (UN) designation of 2029 as the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence.
The initiative will foster international collaboration in the field of planetary defence and educate the public on the risks and opportunities associated with near-Earth asteroids.
Why 2029?
The year 2029 was chosen in order to coincide with an incredibly rare astronomical event. On 13 April 2029, the 375-metre-wide asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth – that’s closer than weather monitoring and communications satellites in geostationary orbit around our planet.
An asteroid of this size passes this close to Earth only once every few thousand years on average. While Apophis poses no danger to us, the flyby presents a unique opportunity for scientific observation and public engagement.
ESA’s proposed Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) would launch in 2028 and rendezvous with Apophis in February 2029, two months before it passes Earth.
Ramses would allow scientists to study the asteroid up close before, during, and after its interaction with our planet, delivering a treasure-trove of scientific and planetary defence data as never before.
As Apophis passes Earth, the side of the asteroid closest to our planet will be pulled more strongly than the side slightly further away, potentially causing disruptions to the surface, such as landslides, that could expose new material.
How Apophis changes, and what new material is revealed, will improve our understanding of what asteroids are made of, which is critical knowledge if humankind ever needs to put asteroid deflection to the test in a real scenario.
Engaging the public
The International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence will build upon existing awareness campaigns, such as the UN-endorsed Asteroid Day, held annually on 30 June, to educate the public about asteroid science and planetary defence.
Events are likely to include opportunities for citizen science, public observing sessions and outreach programmes aimed at inspiring young people to pursue careers in space and planetary sciences.
“As our technology improves, we will detect more asteroids on trajectories that bring them safely past Earth that we would have missed in the past,” says Moissl.
“It is critical that we continue to support public engagement in order help people around the world separate the facts from the fiction.”
A global effort
The key is in the name: planetary defence relies on cooperation on a planetary scale. ESA is an active member of organisations such as the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), which bring together space agencies and other relevant actors from around the world to coordinate international efforts to detect and prepare for potential asteroid hazards.
“By working together, we pool our resources, share our expertise, and develop coordinated strategies to address the risk of an asteroid impact,” says Moissl. “International cooperation is essential for enhancing our collective ability to detect, track, and mitigate potential hazards posed by asteroids.”
The International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence aims to strengthen these partnerships, serve as a platform for education and outreach, and work to ensure that developing nations, which may lack the necessary infrastructure for asteroid monitoring and impact mitigation, are included in global planetary defence strategies.
“An asteroid impact could affect people anywhere on Earth. Planetary defence is a responsibility shared by all nations, and 2029 is sure to be a landmark year for the field.”