Scientists plan to send a special spacecraft to study a particular asteroid.
In 2029, the asteroid 99942 Apophis, larger than the Eiffel Tower, will fly past the Earth at a distance closer than geostationary satellites. Until a few years ago, it was believed that this rock would hit the Earth. But now, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to send a spacecraft to it to carefully study it and strengthen protection against such asteroids, The Guardian writes.
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ESA has announced that it has begun preparations for the Ramses mission, which will send a spacecraft to the asteroid 99942 Apophis to collect data on its size, shape, mass and rotation pattern. Scientists also want to learn more about the asteroid’s composition, internal structure and its orbit when it passes Earth from a distance of 32,000 km on 13 April 2029.
Scientists say the Apophis asteroid will make a unique pass of Earth, with a large asteroid coming this close only once every few thousand years. The asteroid, which is about 370 meters wide, is expected to be visible to the naked eye in the night sky.
This asteroid will fly closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites used for navigation and weather forecasting. At this distance, the asteroid will begin to interact with Earth. It is thought that the planet’s gravity will slightly change the shape of the asteroid and may also cause 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. Scientists also want to obtain information that could help remove such dangerous rocks from Earth. The impact of such an asteroid on Earth could cause a global catastrophe.
The asteroid Apophis was discovered in 2004 and was widely believed to hit our planet in 2029. Just 3 years ago, it was known that no large asteroid would hit Earth for at least the next 100 years. Scientists believe that the Ramses mission will help estimate the probability of an Apophis asteroid hitting Earth in the coming centuries.
Although preparations for the mission have begun, the final decision on its launch will be made by the end of 2025. If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will arrive at the asteroid in early 2028.
As I already wrote FocusNASA wants to send an unconventional helicopter to Mars to replace the defunct Ingenuity helicopter. The Mars helicopter has already stopped working, which means it could be replaced by a swarm of Martian bees.
Moreover Focus wrote about how a time traveler in the future would see the Earth. If a time traveler could travel a billion years into the future, what would the Earth be like? Would there be at least one person left on the planet, or would our civilization be lost forever?
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.