AI Insight
Multiple space agencies are planning coordinated missions to study the asteroid Apophis when it passes unusually close to Earth in 2029. This rare close encounter will provide scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to observe and gather data about a near-Earth asteroid at close range. The international collaboration aims to maximize scientific return by deploying multiple spacecraft to study Apophis from different perspectives during the flyby.
Why it matters
Understanding asteroids like Apophis is crucial for planetary defense, as it helps scientists develop better methods for tracking and potentially deflecting hazardous near-Earth objects. The 2029 flyby represents a unique natural laboratory that occurs once in a generation, allowing researchers to study how close gravitational encounters with Earth affect asteroid characteristics and behavior.
Understand the Science
Space agencies around the globe are coordinating missions to visit the asteroid Apophis during a close encounter with Earth in 2029
Source: Spacecraft will swarm asteroid Apophis during fateful 2029 Earth flyby