Following its revolutionary mission to the asteroid Bennu, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is now commenced on a new expedition to investigate the asteroid Apophis, colloquially referred to as the “God of Chaos.” Apophis is scheduled to make an unprecedented approach to Earth in 2029, passing within 20,000 miles of the surface of our planet. This mission is being conducted at that precise moment.
In September, the OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer) spacecraft concluded a round-trip of four billion miles and seven years, culminating in its arrival at Bennu. The mission procured samples from Bennu, an asteroid estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. The discoveries made regarding carbon and water during this expedition provided substantial support for the hypothesis that life on Earth might have originated from beyond the galaxy.
On April 13, 2029, Apophis, a space asteroid with a diameter of over 1,000 feet that was initially identified in 2004, is projected to reach a closer approach to Earth than certain of our satellites. This is an especially momentous occasion due to the fact that asteroids of this magnitude pass Earth this close approximately once every 7,500 years. Subsequent investigations have systematically discarded the 3% likelihood of a collision with Earth that was initially postulated for both the 2029 approach and Apophis’ return in 2036.
In addition to altering Apophis’ orbit, the encounter with Earth may cause landslides and earthquakes on the asteroid, which could conceivably expose material beneath its surface. Arriving at Apophis on April 13, 2029, and remaining there for the subsequent 18 months in order to examine the effects of Earth’s gravity on the asteroid, OSIRIS-APEX will diligently observe these modifications.
In contrast to its objective at Bennu, OSIRIS-APEX will not engage in direct interaction with Apophis. Instead, it will orbit within sixteen feet of the asteroid’s surface and stir up rocks and dust with its thrusters, enabling scientists to observe the material beneath.
This expedition is well-positioned to yield significant knowledge regarding the characteristics of asteroids and their interactions with celestial entities. NASA maintains a positive outlook regarding the prospective revelations that await, capitalizing on the insights acquired during the Bennu mission and implementing them in this novel investigation of Apophis.