ESA's RAMSES Mission Set to Explore Asteroid Apophis in 2029

The mission aims to study the asteroid's response to Earth's gravity, enhancing planetary defense strategies.

Apophis will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on April 13, 2029, offering a rare scientific opportunity.
ESA's RAMSES spacecraft will launch in 2028 to observe Apophis before, during, and after its close approach.
The mission will provide critical data on asteroid composition and behavior under gravitational forces.
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX will join RAMSES post-flyby to further investigate Apophis.
The initiative underscores the importance of rapid-response missions for future planetary defense.