Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is closely monitoring the large asteroid Apophis, which is expected to pass near Earth on April 13, 2029. The asteroid, named after the Egyptian god of chaos, poses a potential threat due to its size and proximity.
ISRO has established a new domain focused on planetary defence to safeguard Earth from extraterrestrial objects. This includes tracking and analysing potential asteroid threats through its Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA).
Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by large asteroids. He assured that India is prepared to collaborate with other nations to address this and future threats, underscoring the importance of planetary defence.
Apophis, first discovered in 2004, has an estimated diameter of 340 to 450 meters. This size categorizes it as a potentially hazardous asteroid. While its next close encounter is in 2029, there are concerns about its potential impact.
Apophis will come within 32,000 kilometres of Earth, a distance closer than the orbit of geostationary satellites. This close approach will be the nearest for an asteroid of this size, highlighting its significance.
ISRO estimates that an asteroid larger than 300 meters could cause continental-scale damage if it impacts Earth. In a worst-case scenario, an asteroid larger than 10 kilometres could lead to mass extinction.
Past asteroid impacts include a meteor strike in India 500,000 years ago, creating the Lonar Crater Lake. This historical precedent underscores the potential risks associated with large asteroid impacts.
NASA plans to study Apophis further with missions such as OSIRIS-REx, which will be redirected to this asteroid. The European Space Agency is also preparing a mission, Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (RAMSES), potentially launching in 2028. India may participate in these efforts.
To mitigate potential threats, various methods to alter an asteroid’s trajectory are being explored. These include impact missions like NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), gravity tractors, ion beam deflectors, and, as a last resort, nuclear explosives.