The Ramses mission would stalk the asteroid as it barrels toward our planet.
The European Space Agency is preparing to send a pair of spacecraft to stalk a potentially hazardous asteroid as it swings by Earth during an unnervingly close encounter in 2029.
Ramses would carry two cubesats on board, designed to deploy from the main spacecraft once it arrives at the asteroid. The mission would need to arrive at Apophis in February 2029, two months before the asteroid’s close approach. Using a suite of science instruments, the pair of cubesats will conduct thorough observations of the asteroid’s physical properties before and after the flyby.
Learning about asteroids could help scientists gather clues about the origin of planets in the solar system, and how Earth and its neighbors evolved over time. Aside from that, it could also prepare Earth for incoming threats by demonstrating the first step in redirecting an asteroid. Apophis is named after an enemy of the Ancient Egyptian sun god Ra, an evil serpent that tries to swallow the star as it disappears from the skies every night. It’s only fitting that the ESA mission would be named after one of the most famous Pharaohs that ruled Ancient Egypt during its golden age.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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