Concerns grow over cruise ship-sized asteroid heading to Earth
Information about what asteroidabout the size of a cruise ship, approaching Earthhas put scientists from space agencies on alert, and they have begun to develop various strategies to reduce the tension that such news could cause.
According to NASA, the asteroid, called Apophis will pass near the Earth April 13, 2029 in the range 32,000 kilometers and caused global concern because the event could cause an unprecedented tragedy. Consequently, scientists and astronomers began to develop methods to to deflect or soften this rocky body.
The US intelligence agency clarified that this fact is not important. “poses an immediate danger”although measures need to be taken on this issue, such as observing its behavior or other events that can give a real idea of how this very long asteroid can harm the ecosystem.
Before that event, which will happen in 2029, the RAMSES spacecraft will rendezvous with the asteroid in 2028 and follow it along its path to watch it begin is deformed by the gravity of our planet.
“There is still much to learn about asteroids, but until now we have had to travel into the depths of the solar system to study them and conduct experiments on interaction with its surface“, he emphasized. Patrick Michaeldirector of research at the Nice Côte d’Azur Observatory, to the European Space Agency, which is aware of the events and has begun to study possible scenarios.
In the same spirit, Michel assured: “For the first time in history, nature gives it to us and conducts the experiment itself. All we have to do is watch as Apophis stretches and compresses under powerful tidal forces that can cause ground motion and other disturbances, and reveal new material from beneath the surface“.
To perform the specific function of RAMSES, which will play a fundamental role in tracking the asteroid before it approaches Earth, Richard Moissledirector European Space Agency Planetary Protection Directoratesaid: “The spacecraft will demonstrate that humanity can launch a reconnaissance mission to detect an asteroid within a few years. This type of mission is the cornerstone of humanity’s response to a hazardous asteroid.. First, a reconnaissance mission will be launched to analyze the orbit and structure of the approaching asteroid. The results will be used to determine the best way to redirect an asteroid or prevent it from hitting before a costly diversion mission“.
Discovered in 2004. The etymology of his name is related to the Egyptian god associated with chaos And darknessThis is how this mythological character is described: Apophis It could cause an unprecedented resonance in space, although experts emphasize that it does not pose a threat to Earth in the next hundred years. It is expected that if there is a spacecraft monitoring its movements, the arrival of the asteroid could lead to earthquakes or other events that could complicate the development of human life.
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