“Could we do anything to prevent this happening to Earth?”
ESA’s Space Safety programme is taking the next step in answering this question with its upcoming planetary defence mission – the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses).
ESA’s Space Safety programme is taking the next step in answering this question with its upcoming planetary defence mission – the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses).
Ramses will rendezvous with the asteroid (99942) Apophis and accompany it through its safe but exceptionally close flyby of Earth in 2029. Researchers will study the asteroid as Earth’s gravity alters its physical characteristics. Their findings will improve our ability to defend our planet from any similar object found to be on a collision course in the future.
Apophis
Roughly 375 m across, about the size of a cruise liner, the asteroid Apophis will pass within 32 000 km from Earth’s surface on 13 April 2029. For a short time, it will be visible to the naked eye in clear, dark skies for around two billion people across much of Europe and Africa and parts of Asia.
Apophis will miss Earth: astronomers have ruled out any chance that the asteroid will collide with our planet. However, the Apophis flyby in April 2029 remains an extremely rare natural phenomenon.
By analysing the sizes and orbits of all known asteroids, astronomers believe that an object this large comes this close to Earth only once every 5000 to 10 000 years. For comparison, a total solar eclipse takes place somewhere on Earth around once every 18 months, and Comet Halley returns to Earth’s skies every 76 years.
The 2029 Apophis flyby will draw the attention of the entire world and represents a unique opportunity for science, planetary defence and public engagement.
Find out more about the Ramses mission and Apophis from the European Space Agency: ESA – Ramses: ESA’s mission to asteroid Apophis