NASA, ESA and JAXA Launch 3 Missions to Study Apophis's 32,000-Km Earth Flyby
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 1
NASA, ESA and JAXA Launch 3 Missions to Study Apophis's 32,000-Km Earth Flyby
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 1
Summary
Three major missions are now lined up to examine Apophis during its April 13, 2029 pass, turning what once had no formal study plans into a coordinated international campaign.
At 32,000 km from Earth, the 340-meter asteroid will pass below geostationary orbit, giving scientists a rare chance to measure how Earth's gravity reshapes a rubble-pile asteroid without impact risk.
JAXA's DESTINY+ is set to reach Apophis first weeks before the flyby, while ESA's Ramses—launched on the same H3 rocket—will approach within 1 km and deploy two CubeSats to probe the asteroid's interior.
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX will arrive on June 5, 2029 for an 18-month campaign, including a thruster experiment to stir surface material and test how cohesive Apophis's regolith is.
A student-led Chinese CubeSat could add a 7-km flyby, while ground radar and public skywatching across western Asia, Africa and Europe broaden the event's value for planetary defense and asteroid awareness.
With billions in the viewing path, could unforeseen Earth tidal forces cause the Apophis asteroid to fracture right before our eyes?
Apophis will not hit Earth, but how exactly will our planet's gravity permanently rewrite the future trajectory of this massive asteroid?
As space agencies rush to prepare for 2029, what hidden planetary defense secrets might the god of chaos asteroid reveal?
The 2029 Apophis Flyby: International Response, Scientific Opportunity, and Planetary Defense Policy
Overview
On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis will make an exceptionally close flyby of Earth, passing within 32,000 kilometers—closer than many satellites—and becoming visible to billions of people across Europe, Africa, and Asia. During this rare event, Earth's gravity will stretch and squeeze Apophis, triggering surface quakes and shifting its regolith to reveal fresh material. The flyby will also disrupt the asteroid's tumbling spin and permanently enlarge its orbit, increasing uncertainty in its future path. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX and ESA-JAXA's RAMSES missions will work together to study these changes, providing vital insights for planetary defense and international cooperation.