On April 13, 2029, the 375-meter asteroid Apophis will make a close approach, passing within 32,000 kilometers of Earth's surface, a distance less than one-tenth of that between Earth and the Moon. This rare event presents a significant opportunity for scientific research and planetary defense initiatives.
During the flyby, strong tidal forces will likely expose new material beneath Apophis's surface. A proposed spacecraft could observe these changes, providing insights into the asteroid's composition and structure, as well as its response to external forces. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for developing strategies to redirect potentially hazardous asteroids.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is considering a mission named Rapid Apophis for Space Safety (Ramses), which aims to study the asteroid during its close approach. The ESA plans to discuss funding and approval for this mission during the Ministerial Council meeting in 2025. The spacecraft would be based on the Hera mission, which successfully launched on October 7, 2024, marking ESA's first asteroid mission.
If approved, the Ramses mission is expected to launch in early 2028 to ensure timely arrival at Apophis. In July 2024, ESA member states authorized the use of existing agency funds to begin preparatory work for the mission's implementation phase, contingent on full support from the Ministerial Council.