The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) intends to engage proactively in global efforts for planetary defense, focusing on Earth’s upcoming close encounter with Asteroid Apophis in 2029.

• This commitment was underscored during commemorating Asteroid Day 2024 on 30th June.

About 99942 Apophis

• A Near-Earth object (NEO): It is a near-Earth object (NEO) and it is believed that this may reach Earth in 2029. 
• Distance from the Earth: The average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 239,000 miles and the 99942 Aposphis will be just 38,012km or 23,619 miles away from the Earth on April 14, 2029. 
  • Hence, it would be 10 times closer than the moon, and moving with a speed of 29.98km per second.
  • Although this distance is considerable in cosmic terms, it is remarkably close in astronomical terms.
• Size: The asteroid is 1,1100 feet or 335 meters in size. 
• Its Discovery: Astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi discovered the asteroid 99942 Apophis on June 19, 2004. 
  • They only managed to observe the asteroid for two days due to technical and weather problems. 
  • A team at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia spotted the asteroid again later in the same year. 
  • Spacecraft Used: OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer) was renamed OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX) and was sent to study Apophys during the asteroid’s 2029 Earth flyby.
• Naming: Apophis is named after the demon serpent who personified evil and chaos in ancient Egyptian mythology.
• Visibility: The asteroid will be very close to earth, and people will be able to have a glimpse of it from a safe distance. 
  • It will be visible to observers in the Eastern Hemisphere and they don’t need any telescopes or binoculars. 
  • It is a rare opportunity for all astronomers to study the relic that has shifted from a potential threat to a subject of scientific interest.
• Chances to Strike: Many reports earlier claimed that it will strike Earth in 2029. However, NASA recently clarified that a radar observation in March 2021 along with orbit analysis confirmed that the Apophis 2029 wouldn’t hit Earth.
• Impact: While the likelihood of a direct impact is low, the potential consequences necessitate proactive measures.

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ISRO’s Plans for Apophis

• Observation and Study: ISRO plans to observe Apophis when it reaches 32,000 kilometers from Earth, gathering crucial data to develop effective defense strategies.
• Collaboration: ISRO may collaborate with other space agencies such as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), potentially contributing instruments to a joint mission focused on Apophis or offering other forms of support.
• Objective: 
  • Support and Knowledge Sharing: ISRO aims to contribute instruments or other support to enhance understanding of asteroids and planetary defense strategies.
  • Mission Participation: By participating in this mission, India can actively contribute to global research on planetary defense.
• Acknowledgement to Study: ISRO acknowledges the importance of studying Apophis during its close approach to Earth, aiming to advance planetary defense efforts through insights into the asteroid’s composition, structure, and behavior.
  • This effort aims to provide insights into planetary defense strategies capable of averting future asteroid impacts on Earth.
• Necessity for Collaboration: ISRO’s focus on planetary defense highlights the necessity for international collaboration in safeguarding Earth from potential cosmic threats.
• Dedication for Advancement: India’s involvement in these endeavors demonstrates its dedication to advancing space science and ensuring the protection of Earth.

About NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART Mission

• Uniqueness: NASA’s DART mission in 2022 facilitated the change of trajectory of an asteroid in deep space. It is a mission to show that it is possible to impart a little bit of a change of trajectory to an asteroid and cause it to depart from its course. 
  • It showed that a spacecraft’s kinetic impact with its target asteroid, Dimorphos, had successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid. 
• Significance: This marks humanity’s first time purposely changing the motion of a celestial object and the first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology.

About Asteroids

• Refers: Minor planets, also known as asteroids or planetoids, are celestial objects that orbit the Sun but are significantly smaller than the major planets. 
• Size: These rocky and metallic bodies vary in size from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
• Existence: They primarily inhabit the asteroid belt, a region located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but can also be found throughout the solar system. 
• Importance: Minor planets are remnants from the early stages of solar system formation and provide valuable insights into the history and composition of our cosmic neighborhood. 
• Deflection of Asteroids from Earth: Kinetic Impact, Nuclear Detonation, the Gravity Tractor can accurately determine the asteroid’s new orbit and deliver any remaining required deflection.
  • Through a combination of detection, tracking, and deflection methods, researchers can identify and redirect asteroids that pose a threat to Earth. 
  • However, no single method is a panacea. Each has its strengths and limitations, and the choice of approach will depend on factors such as the size and composition of the asteroid, the warning time available, and the resources at disposal.
• Concerning Impacts:
  • Huge Devastation: Luis Walter Alvarez and his son Walter are known for their theory that an asteroid collided with our planet 66 million years ago and caused all non-bird dinosaurs and many other animals to die out.
  • Impacted Site: The Chicxulub crater, Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
    • The asteroid is thought to have been between 10 and 15 kilometers wide, but the velocity of its collision caused the creation of a much larger crater, 150 kilometers in diameter. It’s the second-largest crater on the planet.
      • The Vredefort impact structure is the largest verified impact structure on Earth.

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Asteroid Day

• June 30th: It is observed every year by the space community on June 30 on account of a huge air blast from an asteroid flattening 2,200 sq km of forest in Siberia, Russia, on June 30, 1908. 
  • Asteroids are hypothesized to have caused the extinction of dinosaurs. 

About Near-Earth Object (NEO)

• It is an asteroid or comet which passes close to the Earth’s orbit. 
• In technical terms, a NEO is considered to have a trajectory which brings it within 1.3 astronomical units of the Sun and hence within 0.3 astronomical units, or approximately 45 million kilometers, of the Earth’s orbit.

Potentially Hazardous Object (PHA)

• PHAs are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid’s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.

Conclusion

Planetary defense is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires ongoing research, development, and international cooperation. There is a need to invest in these efforts and work together as a global community to protect our planet and secure Earth.

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