Scientists at a private space company are considering a controversial but bold move to land on a dangerous asteroid as it passes Earth in three years.
The space rock, named Apophis, was first discovered in 2004 and is expected to pass Earth in 2029.
Previous calculations suggested a 2.7% chance that the asteroid would collide with Earth and potentially destroy an area almost the size of a city.
However, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have ruled out any potential risk of impact in the foreseeable future.
US-based ExLabs has announced ambitious plans to send two landers to attempt to land on the space rock as it passes nearly 32,000km from Earth.
Co-founder and scientific director Miguel Pascual said: “The main goal is to obtain images of the asteroid surface,” adding: “Some really exciting science can happen. »
ExLabs said its mother spacecraft, scheduled to launch in 2028, will carry 10 spacecraft, including two landers.
The space company plans to deploy a shoebox-sized lander, which will continue to take photos as it descends at a speed of 10 centimeters per second. The lander is expected to attempt to land within an hour of deployment.
For context, a lander is a type of spacecraft designed to descend from an orbit, pass through an atmosphere (if applicable), and make a smooth, controlled landing on the surface of a celestial body.
To ensure Earth’s safety and no change in the asteroid’s orbit, ExLabs plans to execute the mission a week after Apophis flies past Earth.
