The European Space Agency (ESA) has greenlit initial preparations for a mission to asteroid Apophis. If approved for a key assembly next year, the robotic spacecraft, dubbed the Speedy Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES), is set to intercept the asteroid in February 2029.
Apophis, a notable asteroid, measures approximately 340 metres in breadth, roughly equivalent to the height of the iconic Empire State Building. If it were to hit Earth, the impact could potentially trigger massive destruction hundreds or even thousands of miles from the epicenter. The potential energy released by this device could rival that of hundreds or even thousands of nuclear weapons, depending on its yield.
Fortunately, asteroid Apophis will not hit Earth in 2029. As an alternative, the spacecraft will safely pass by Earth at a distance of approximately 19,794 miles (31,860 kilometres), roughly one-twelfth that of the Earth-Moon gap. While a close encounter with an asteroid of Apophis’s size would undoubtedly be alarming, it’s reassuring that astronomers can observe this potentially hazardous celestial body with just the naked eye.
NASA and the European Space Agency have seized an unprecedented opportunity to dispatch distinct robotic spacecraft to converge on Apophis, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of this enigmatic asteroid. Should their missions help inform efforts to deflect an asteroid that threatens Earth, what should we do if the situation arises?
The Menace From Asteroids
Seventy-five million years ago, a massive asteroid roughly one mile in diameter struck Earth with unfathomable force. The impact of this asteroid led to a global extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Earth remains at perpetual risk of being struck by remnants from the solar system’s formation approximately 4.5 billion years ago, a legacy left over from its own creation. Located in the vast expanse of space between Mars and Jupiter, the asteroid belt is home to a diverse array of rocky bodies that vary significantly in size and composition. While some black holes are relatively small, measuring just 10 meters in diameter, others can be enormous, stretching thousands of kilometers across, dwarfing even the massive asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
The asteroid belt consists of approximately one to two million asteroids measuring over a kilometre in size, as well as hundreds of thousands of smaller celestial bodies. The rocky houses within our solar system are drawn together by their own gravitational attraction, as well as the gravitational influence of Jupiter on one side and the inner planets on the other.
Because of the perpetual gravitational tug-of-war, asteroids are occasionally ejected from their orbits and sent careening towards the inner solar system. Approximately 35,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) exist. Among the estimated 2,300 near-Earth objects (NEOs), approximately 2,300 of them have orbits that intersect with Earth’s and are large enough to pose a tangible threat to humanity’s survival if their trajectories were to collide with our planet.
All ye who once didst whisper sweet nothings to my heart, do not go mild into that good night.
Throughout the 20th century, astronomers conducted numerous surveys, akin to those, in order to. But detecting asteroids alone isn’t enough; our next challenge lies in developing a strategy to deflect or destroy any asteroid that’s on a collision course with Earth.
While blowing up an asteroid may seem like a dramatic solution to mitigate its impact on Earth, as portrayed in the movie Armageddon, it is actually not a viable option for several reasons. The asteroid’s potential fragmentation could result in smaller pieces staying on course along the same trajectory. As an alternative to being struck by a single massive asteroid, Earth may also be vulnerable to impact from a swarm of smaller objects, potentially posing a similar threat.
The widely accepted solution is to divert the approaching asteroid so that it safely bypasses our planet. To redirect the asteroid’s course, we would need to harness external energy and utilize a propulsion system to impart a controlled force on its surface, thereby nudging it off its current trajectory. Can we redirect a spacecraft to nudge the asteroid off its collision course? As the Apollo 11 spacecraft, renowned for its historic mission to land humans on the moon. Before we’re forced to take action, it’s crucial to understand the different types of asteroids.
Apophis, Ramses, and Osiris-Apex
was found in 2004. The asteroid passed by Earth on December 21, 2004, at a distance of approximately 14 million kilometers. The Halley’s Comet will return to the sky in 2021, making another pass around Earth in 2029, 2036, and 2068.
Until recently, there was a slim chance that Apophis might collide with Earth in 2068. Despite this, astronomers employed radar observations in 2021 to fine-tune their understanding of Apophis’ orbital trajectory. It has been confirmed that asteroid Apophis will not collide with Earth.
The Ramesses spacecraft is scheduled to meet Apophis in February 2029, a full two months ahead of the asteroid’s predicted closest approach to our planet on April 13th. As the asteroid draws near to our planet, it will be accompanied by this object. As Apophis’s proximity to Earth’s gravitational sphere prompts a reevaluation of its orbital dynamics, the perturbations on its path and configuration are anticipated to be substantial.
NASA’s “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Utility, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer” mission was launched in 2016 to explore the near-Earth asteroid. In December 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully intercepted asteroid Bennu, collecting crucial samples of rock and soil from its surface. These precious specimens were then carefully stowed away in a specially designed capsule, which touched down safely on Earth in September 2023.
NASA’s spacecraft, still awaiting a commercial buyer, was rebranded as the “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Verification-1” and reassigned to study Apophis. Osiris-Apes will intercept the asteroid shortly after its close approach in 2029. As the spacecraft descends, it will skim just above Apophis’s surface, carefully extinguishing its thrusters to stir up the rocky terrain and uncover the hidden layer beneath.
Rarely does a celestial body of such enormity, like the asteroid Apophis, have a close encounter with our planet; in fact, a detailed flyby of this magnitude happens only once every 5,000 to 10,000 years. When Apophis makes its closest approach in 2029, scientists will have a rare opportunity to closely study the asteroid’s response to Earth’s gravitational pull. The data collected will ultimately inform our most effective approach to protecting Earth from a potentially catastrophic asteroid impact.
Historic Egyptian Mythology
As the celestial bodies align in 2029, a rare convergence will occur when Ramses and Osiris-Apex intersect with Apophis, unwittingly recreating a fundamental aspect of ancient Egyptian cosmological lore. In ancient Egyptian culture, the sun was revered and personified through a pantheon of powerful deities, with Ra standing out as one of the most prominent. As the sun sinks beneath the horizon at dusk, an ancient mythological narrative is rekindled: the solar’s descent into the underworld signals the demise of Re, god of the sun, who embarks on his nightly journey to the realm of the dead.
As he traversed the underworld during the darkest hours, Re found himself confronted by a sinister serpent, personifying the forces of darkness and disintegration. Following Apophis’ defeat, Re was said to have been rejuvenated by Osiris, ruler of the underworld. The sun may rise again, reborn in the east, and climb the sky once more.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the god Re is portrayed as vulnerable to attack by the colossal serpent, Apophis, as depicted through hieroglyphics showing the reptile’s massive coils encircling Re’s solar boat. Despite repeated defeats, Apophis endures, his robust form repeatedly impaled by spears or sliced by numerous knives.
While Apophis poses no threat in the near future, Ramses (named after the pharaohs of identical title, meaning “born of Re”) and Osiris-Apex will study it to enable us to prepare a defense strategy for potential encounters with distant asteroid cousins.
