The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman S Somanath and senior scientists stated at an international workshop held in Bengaluru on Wednesday to mark Asteroid Day 2024 that the organization is eager to take part in a planetary defense mission in space ahead of a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis that is scheduled for April 13, 2029.
According to the ISRO, the purpose of the asteroid workshop, which is being attended by schoolchildren, is to inspire creative solutions for planetary defense while also increasing public awareness of the impact hazards posed by asteroids and the value of asteroid research in advancing our understanding of the universe.
We should be able to visit Apophis when it approaches Earth in 2029, when it will be very near. Humanity will only have this one chance to collaborate with an asteroid. India ought to take part in these initiatives. At the Asteroid Day event, ISRO chairman Somanath stated, “We haven’t decided how we should participate yet.”
ISRO Chairman S Somanath and senior scientists stated at an international workshop held in Bengaluru on Wednesday to mark Asteroid Day 2024 that the organization is eager to take part in a planetary defense mission in space ahead of a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis that is scheduled for April 13, 2029.
According to the ISRO, the purpose of the asteroid workshop, which is being attended by schoolchildren, is to inspire creative solutions for planetary defense while also increasing public awareness of the impact hazards posed by asteroids and the value of asteroid research in advancing our understanding of the universe.
“We should be able to visit Apophis when it approaches Earth in 2029, when it will be very near. Humanity will only have this one chance to collaborate with an asteroid. India ought to take part in these initiatives,” said ISRO chairman Somanath at the Asteroid Day event. “We haven’t decided how we should participate yet.”
Plans for Apophis by ISRO
In order to get ready for planetary defense operations to stop the asteroid from crashing onto Earth, ISRO scientists claimed they are considering working in some capacity to analyze the asteroid Apophis when it is 32,000 km away from Earth in 2029.
“It may entail attaching an instrument to the combined Apophis asteroid mission of NASA, JAXA, and ESA, or we could participate by offering support in some other way, or we could take a different approach. To take part in the search for knowledge and learn, we must offer whatever assistance we can. We are excited to share our expertise,” said ISRO Chairman Somanath.
Collecting Notes from NASA’s DART Mission
The chairman of ISRO made reference to NASA’s DART mission in 2022, which made it possible for an asteroid to alter its route in deep space. “There will be a great deal of excitement and a need to take action when it is learned that an asteroid will hit Earth in a few years. When there is no threat, it would be better if we took action. For this reason, many missions have been undertaken to explore and learn about asteroids. The DART mission is one of the missions,” Somanath stated.
The goal of the DART mission is to show that an asteroid may have its trajectory slightly modified, causing it to veer off course. “An asteroid that we can alter in course will nearly miss Earth. That will suffice to preserve Earth.”
What is NASA’s DART Mission?
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) conducted by NASA demonstrated that the asteroid Dimorphos’ orbit may be effectively modified by a spacecraft’s kinetic impact with it. NASA said in 2022 that “this marks the first time humanity has purposefully changed the motion of a celestial object and the first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology.”
What are the main funding barriers for NASA?
ISRO is thought to be short on cash for new initiatives like asteroid expeditions because of its significant investment in the human space mission, which aims to send a man into space. Scientists have been debating space defense against asteroids for a long time. “To defend Earth, the space community as a whole must band together. How to contribute financially and intellectually is the current conversation topic,” according to ISRO chairman.
What is India’s current status in planetary defense?
According to Somanath, “India will one day be in a position to handle an asteroid mission, land on an asteroid, and possibly carry out a planetary defense action to protect Earth” as a major spacefaring nation with the capacity “to carry out complex missions of taking a spacecraft from one place to another.”
“We need to put this knowledge to use, and the best way to do so would be to work with other countries that have already begun this kind of work.” One such instance is JAXA, which visited an asteroid and took samples. He added, “There are a lot of other agencies.” According to Anil Kumar A K, associate director of ISRO’s telemetry, tracking, and command center (ISTRAC), “ISRO has also wanted to be part of the worldwide planetary defense programme in collaboration with other agencies.”
How Does Apophis Capture the Attention of Astronomers?
An asteroid with a size of 340 meters was visible to our observatories in 2004. As the asteroid approached, Anil Kumar stated, “Our people quickly calculated, using the data at hand, that there is a more than one in 100 chance that this object will approach and impact the Earth, which is a high risk.” The speaker identified the object as Apophis, whose sphere spans 360 days, roughly comparable to an Earth year. Therefore, it is frequently seen in the Earth’s orbit.
It will reach a distance of about 32,000 kilometers from Earth on April 13, 2029. It is anticipated to return in April of 2036. The ISTRAC official expressed concern that if there is a change in gravity, there’s a possibility it will affect Earth in 2036.
Where Does Asteroid Apophis Come From? NASA Says
The possibility of a planet-threatening occurrence in 2068 has been ruled out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Apophis, an asteroid discovered in 2004 and named after an Egyptian God of chaos, was initially expected to approach uncomfortably close to Earth. The asteroid is not expected to pose a threat to Earth for at least a century, according to the most recent data and analysis.
When the asteroid passed close to Earth on March 5, 2021, astronomers took advantage of the opportunity to estimate the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun using powerful radar readings. This led to the discovery of new information. “An impact in 2068 is no longer conceivable, and our estimates indicate no impact risk for at least the next 100 years,” NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Director Davide Farnocchia stated in a statement.
“When projected to 2029, the uncertainty in Apophis’ orbit decreased from hundreds of kilometers to just a few kilometers thanks to the support of recent optical observations and further radar data. We can now remove Apophis from the risk list because of our much improved understanding of its position in 2029, which gives us more confidence about its future motion.”
Astronomers utilized the 70-meter radio antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California, which is part of the Deep Space Network, to monitor Apophis’ motion. Additionally, they employed imagery of Apophis from the 100-meter Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. In a “bistatic” experiment, the two systems were combined to twice the received signal’s strength.
Even while Apophis’ radar imagery looks grainy, one pixel spans 38.75 meters, which is an amazing achievement given that the asteroid is 17 million kilometers from Earth. With more investigation, astronomers aim to discover the asteroid’s shape in addition to its orbit. Like most asteroids of this size, the 200-meter-diameter asteroid is predicted to have a peanut-shaped form.
The predicted date of the planet’s next flyby of Earth is April 23, 2029. It will be visible with the unaided eye in the Eastern Hemisphere and 32,000 kilometers from the surface of our planet. Astronomers want to know the axis it rotates around and its rotation rate before that occurs. This will let them to better comprehend how it will react to the gravitational field of Earth, which can result in asteroid quakes.
About the Size and Distance of Asteroid Apophis
The width of Apophis is roughly 1,100 feet (340 meters). On April 13, 2029, it is predicted to pass safely near to Earth, at a distance of 19,794 miles (31,860 kilometers). This will be the asteroid’s closest known approach to Earth that scientists have been aware of. Apophis can travel up to two astronomical units away from Earth at its furthest point. The distance between the Sun and Earth is one astronomical unit, or AU for short.
What Are the Implications of Asteroid Apophis’ Orbit for Earth?
Apophis’ orbit intersects with Earth’s orbit. It takes it just about 0.9 Earth years to complete one round around the Sun. This puts it in the category of asteroids that cross Earth called “Atens,” or those whose orbits are less wide than one astronomical unit, or AU. The asteroid’s orbit will grow and eventually surpass the length of Earth’s orbit due to its close approach with Earth in 2029. It will thereafter be moved from the Aten group to the “Apollo” group, which is the category of asteroids that cross Earth and have orbits larger than one astronomical unit.
The asteroid rotates once every thirty hours on its short axis, causing it to “wobble.” In addition, occasionally there is a “rocking” motion about its long axis that lasts longer than the swaying on the short axis.
What is the Structure of Asteroid Apophis?
Apophis is categorized as an S-type, or stony-type, asteroid composed of metallic nickel and iron mixed with silicate (or rocky) elements. It resembles a peanut in radar scans due to its elongated shape and potential dual lobes.
Formation of Asteroid Apophis
Apophis, like all asteroids, is a survivor from the early stages of our solar system’s formation, about 4.6 billion years ago. Between Mars and Jupiter, in the main asteroid belt, is where it first appeared. Its orbit has been altered over millions of years, mainly by the gravitational pull of massive planets like Jupiter, to the point where it now orbits the Sun nearer Earth. Consequently, Apophis’s classification has changed from main-belt asteroid to near-Earth asteroid.
Summary
In summary, the ongoing discussions and plans by ISRO regarding the asteroid Apophis highlight India’s commitment to participating in global planetary defense efforts. With its advanced capabilities and expertise, ISRO aims to contribute to the understanding and safeguarding of our planet from potential asteroid threats. As the world prepares for the close encounter in 2029, collaborative efforts among space agencies like NASA, JAXA, and ESA will be crucial in ensuring the safety and security of Earth.
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