Asteroid larger than the Eiffel Tower will fly past Earth closer than satellites

In 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis, larger than the Eiffel Tower, will fly past Earth at a distance closer than many satellites.

Just a few years ago, it was believed that this asteroid would collide with Earth. However, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) now intend to send a spacecraft to study it closely and to enhance protection against similar asteroids.

ESA has announced the start of preparations for the Ramses mission, which will send a spacecraft to asteroid 99942 Apophis to collect data on its size, shape, mass, and rotational dynamics. Scientists aim to learn more about the asteroid’s composition, internal structure, and orbit when it passes Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of 32,000 km.

Scientists say that the asteroid Apophis will make a unique flyby of Earth, with such a close approach of a large asteroid occurring only once every few thousand years. The roughly 370-meter-wide asteroid is expected to be visible to the naked eye in the night sky.

This asteroid will fly by Earth closer than the geostationary satellites used for navigation and weather forecasting. At this distance, the asteroid will interact with Earth’s gravity, potentially altering its shape and causing landslides on its surface.

According to ESA scientists, the results of the Ramses mission will help assess the risk that such large asteroids pose to Earth. They also hope to gather information that could aid in deflecting dangerous asteroids from colliding with Earth. If such an asteroid were to impact Earth, it could cause a global catastrophe.

The Apophis asteroid was discovered in 2004 and was initially believed to be on a collision course with Earth in 2029. It was only three years ago that scientists confirmed that no large asteroid would collide with Earth for at least the next 100 years. They believe that the Ramses mission will help predict the likelihood of the Apophis asteroid impacting Earth for many centuries to come.

Although preparations for the mission have already begun, the final decision on its launch will be made before the end of 2025. If everything goes according to plan, the spacecraft will be launched to the asteroid in early 2028.