The
asteroid probe named OSIRIS-REx, which made headlines by plucking a soil sample from
the asteroid named Bennu and sending it back to Earth in a capsule
which made a parachute
landing in Utah in September, 2023, has been rebranded as
OSIRIS-APEX - short for APophis EXplorer and was put it on course for its next
target, APOPHIS.
OSIRIS-APEX is scheduled to remain near
Apophis for 18 months - orbiting, maneuvering around it and even hovering just
over its surface, using rocket thrusters to kick up loose material to reveal
what lies beneath.
Close examination of Apophis could give
planetary defense experts valuable information about the structure and other
properties of the asteroid. The more scientists know about the composition,
density and orbital behavior the
greater the chances of devising effective asteroid-deflection strategies to
mitigate impact threats.
On April 13,
2029, Earth's gravity will likely cause measurable disturbances to the
asteroid's surface and motion, changing its orbital path and rotational spin.
Tidal forces could trigger landslides on APOPHIS and dislodge rocks and dust
particles to create a comet-like tail.
More information about the APophis EXplorer mission may be found here.
