DSES has discussed the possibility of bouncing signals off the Apophis asteroid similar to what we do now by bouncing signals off the moon. This might be challenging because the Apophis asteroid is small and will be traveling fast, so careful planning will be needed.
What is Apophis?
- Apophis (officially 99942 Apophis) is a near-Earth asteroid, categorized as “potentially hazardous.” NASA Science+2Wikipedia+2
- It is roughly 340 m (1,115 ft) in diameter (with its longest axis about 450 m) NASA Science+2Wikipedia+2
- It was discovered on June 19, 2004 by Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi at Kitt Peak Observatory. NASA Science+2NASA+2
- It’s classified as an S-type (stony) asteroid. NASA Science+2NASA Science+2
The 2029 Close Flyby
- On April 13, 2029, Apophis will make a very close approach to Earth — passing at about 20,000 miles (≈ 32,000 km) from Earth’s surface. NASA Science+3NASA Science+3NASA+3
- That distance is closer than many geostationary satellites orbiting Earth. NASA Science+2European Space Agency+2
- At that time, it is expected to be visible to the naked eye in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. NASA+2Space+2
- Because of Earth’s gravitational pull during the flyby, the asteroid’s orbit, rotation period, and surface features may be altered (e.g. landslides, surface shifts). NASA Science+2science.gsfc.nasa.gov+2
NASA’s Mission: OSIRIS-APEX
To study these changes, NASA is planning a mission extension:
- The original spacecraft OSIRIS-REx (which collected a sample from asteroid Bennu) has been extended and renamed OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Apophis Explorer). NASA Science+3science.gsfc.nasa.gov+3NASA Science+3
- OSIRIS-APEX will rendezvous with Apophis in mid-2029, shortly after the asteroid’s close approach to Earth. NASA Science+3NASA Science+3science.gsfc.nasa.gov+3
- The mission’s goals are to observe and measure how Apophis changes due to the close encounter: changes in spin, surface structure, internal stress, and how Earth’s gravity may induce seismic/landslide activity. NASA Science+3NASA Science+3science.gsfc.nasa.gov+3
- It will utilize (or reuse) much of the same instrumentation suite from OSIRIS-REx. science.gsfc.nasa.gov+1
- However, the mission’s future is uncertain: proposed U.S. budget cuts threaten to cancel or underfund OSIRIS-APEX. Wikipedia+2science.gsfc.nasa.gov+2
Other Missions & Plans
- The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with Japan, is working on a proposed mission called RAMSES (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety). Wikipedia+2Space+2
- RAMSES, if approved, would launch around 2028 and arrive at Apophis around February 2029 (i.e. just before the flyby) to monitor Apophis before, during, and after the Earth passage. Wikipedia+2Space+2
- It plans to deploy CubeSats and gather data on how Apophis responds to gravitational stress from Earth. Wikipedia
- Japan has committed to supplying an H3 rocket for the mission. Reuters+1
- There is also talk of repurposing already-built but shelved spacecraft (from NASA) to assist observations of Apophis. Space
If you like, I can break down the mission timeline, instruments, anticipated scientific findings, or the risks and challenges. Which part would you like to dive into?
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check impo