by NASA has officially renamed the former OSIRIS-REx spacecraft as OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security—Apophis Explorer) as it embarks on a new mission to study asteroid Apophis. This mission will take advantage of Apophis’ unprecedented flyby of Earth in 2029, an event that has not occurred since the beginning of recorded history.
After successfully collecting a sample from asteroid Bennu in September 2021, OSIRIS-REx still had a quarter of its fuel left and its instruments were in great condition. Instead of shutting down the spacecraft, NASA approved a proposal to send it on a bonus mission to study Apophis. OSIRIS-APEX is expected to arrive at Apophis in April 2029.
Out of the several potential destinations considered by NASA, Apophis was chosen due to its unique characteristics. Unlike carbon-rich, C-type Bennu, Apophis is an S-type asteroid composed of silicate materials and nickel-iron.
The main point of interest in Apophis is its extremely close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029. Although there is no danger of a collision, the asteroid will come within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of the Earth’s surface, closer than some satellites. It may even be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere. This kind of close approach by an asteroid of Apophis’ size (about 367 yards across or 340 meters) only happens once every 7,500 years.
OSIRIS-APEX aims to study Apophis immediately after its close approach to observe how its surface changes due to interactions with Earth’s gravity. This encounter is expected to alter Apophis’ orbit and affect the length of its day. It may also trigger quakes and landslides, potentially uncovering hidden materials beneath the asteroid’s surface.
Assistant professor Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, principal investigator for OSIRIS-APEX at the University of Arizona, sees this as a significant opportunity to gain insights into planetary formation processes. The encounter could shed light on how debris in the early solar system eventually formed into planets.
Apophis not only provides an opportunity to understand planetary formation but also offers insights into planetary defense. Most of the known potentially hazardous asteroids belong to the S-type category, just like Apophis. The findings from the mission could contribute to NASA’s research on planetary defense, an essential priority.
Before the close encounter in April 2029, OSIRIS-APEX’s cameras will begin capturing images of Apophis starting from April 2. Earth-based telescopes will also closely monitor the asteroid during this period. However, immediately after the close approach, Apophis will be too close to the sun to be observed by ground-based telescopes. Therefore, the spacecraft will play a crucial role in detecting any changes triggered by the close encounter.
Upon arrival on April 13, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will spend approximately 18 months in close proximity to Apophis. It will conduct various investigations, including mapping the surface and analyzing its chemical composition using its instrument suite of imagers, spectrometers, and a laser altimeter. The spacecraft will also replicate one of the most impressive acts of OSIRIS-REx, by descending within 16 feet of the asteroid’s surface and stirring up rocks and dust to reveal what lies beneath.
Although the rendezvous with Apophis is five years away, OSIRIS-APEX is currently preparing for its first of six close sun passes. These approaches, combined with three gravity assists from Earth, will set the spacecraft on course to reach Apophis in April 2029.
The OSIRIS-APEX mission holds great potential for surprising scientific discoveries, building on the knowledge gained from the mission to Bennu. Amy Simon, the project scientist for OSIRIS-APEX at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, expressed excitement for the next target and the new questions the mission will seek to answer.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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