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ISRO Plans for Planetary Defence: Targeting Apophis in 2029
Context: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) aims to be involved in planetary defence missions focusing on the closest approach of the Apophis asteroid to Earth on April 13, 2029.
- The initiative was highlighted during an international workshop held in Bengaluru on Asteroid Day 2024.
- India is proposing to contribute instruments or other support to collaborative missions led by agencies such as NASA, ESA, and JAXA.
Asteroid Day
- It is observed annually on June 30 by the space community to remember the Tunguska event, where an asteroid explosion flattened 2,200 sq km of Siberian forest in 1908.
- It marks the importance of studying asteroids, which are also linked to the extinction of dinosaurs.
ISRO’s Role and Challenges
- Scientists plan to study asteroid Apophis when it comes within 32,000 km of Earth, to enhance the planet’s safeguards against possible impacts.
- The asteroid, deemed one of the most hazardous near-Earth objects, is set to pass close to Earth in 2029 and again in 2036.
- ISRO’s eagerness to contribute stems from the success of NASA’s DART mission in 2022, which altered an asteroid’s trajectory in deep space.
- The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission shifted an asteroid’s orbit through kinetic impact – specifically, by successfully smashing a spacecraft into the smaller member of the binary asteroid system Didymos.
- Currently prioritising its Gaganyaan human space mission, which could constrain funding for new projects such as asteroid deflection.
About Apophis
- Asteroid 99942 Apophis was discovered in 2004
- Size: 340-metre.
- It is classified as an S-type asteroid, composed of rocky materials and metals.
- It is believed to be elongated and possibly has two lobes.
- It is named after the ancient Egyptian demon serpent of evil and chaos.
- It has an orbital period of 360 days, nearly matching Earth’s year, making it frequently observable near Earth.
- Initial observations indicated a potential impact on Earth. After further tracking and analysis, the risk of impact has been ruled out for at least 100 years.
- The OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will study Apophis during the flyby.
