NASA Aims to Intercept ‘God of Chaos’ Asteroid Approaching Alarmingly Near to Earth in 2029

NASA has reignited its mission to examine the “God of Chaos” asteroid, Apophis, as it draws nearer to Earth’s orbit.

The agency redeployed a spacecraft, recently returned from a deep space mission, for this purpose. This spacecraft, originally known as OSIRIS-REx, has been renamed OSIRIS-APEX for this new assignment. It will investigate the exceptionally close approach of Apophis in 2029, an event NASA notes as unprecedented in recorded history.

OSIRIS-APEX returned to Earth this September after a seven-year mission collecting samples from the space rock Bennu.

The “God of Chaos,” Apophis, is expected to pass extremely close to Earth on April 13, 2029, coming within just 20,000 miles. This distance is even nearer than some manmade satellites and will allow the asteroid to be visible from the Eastern Hemisphere. Measuring about 370 yards in diameter, Apophis orbits Earth roughly every 7,500 years.

As Apophis approaches Earth’s orbit, its trajectory and surface will be affected by Earth’s gravity. OSIRIS-APEX aims to study these changes, with project scientist Amy Simon noting the mission’s focus on how the asteroid’s surface evolves.

The Earth’s gravitational pull is anticipated to alter the length of a day on Apophis, currently around 30.6 hours. This influence could also trigger landslides and quakes on the asteroid. Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-APEX at the University of Arizona in Tucson, emphasized the importance of understanding these tidal forces and rubble pile material accumulation in planet formation.

On April 13, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will rendezvous with the asteroid, conducting its study from a close proximity for 18 months without landing on its surface. The spacecraft will observe surface changes, map the asteroid, and analyze its chemical composition.

NASA plans to maneuver the spacecraft within 16 feet of Apophis’s surface, firing its thrusters downward to disturb the surface and reveal underlying materials.

Although Apophis’s close approach to Earth is still five years away, scientists will continuously monitor its trajectory as it makes its first of six near approaches to the sun.