The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is keeping an eye on a large asteroid named Apophis, which is expected to come very close to Earth. The asteroid, named after an Egyptian God of Chaos, is speeding towards the earth and will have its closest encounter with the planet on April 13, 2029. The Indian space agency has added a new team namely planetary defense to its portfolio and its primary job is to protect planet Earth from extra-terrestrial objects.
According to a NDTV report, Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, informed that an asteroid impact represents a significant existential threat to humanity and ISRO is completely aware of this risk, and the Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) is diligently monitoring the asteroid Apophis.
The asteroid, Apophis, was initially discovered in 2004 and its periodicity, in which it has come close to Earth, has been monitored closely. The next encounter will be in 2029 and then in the year 2036. However, some reports suggest that in 2029 it may not hit Earth.
What we know so far about Apophis?
The Apophis asteroid is bigger than the country’s largest aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and the biggest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium situated in Ahmedabad.
The estimated diameter of the asteroid is of about 340 to 450 meters. It is to note that any planetary body above a 140 meter diameter, passing near to Earth, is considered potentially hazardous. According to ISRO any asteroid larger than 10 kilometre in diameter and hits Earth, it can lead to “mass extinction.” If an asteroid is bigger than 300 meters it can cause “continental scale devastation.”
The head of ISRO’s Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA), Dr A K Anil Kumar, stated that a collision with an asteroid which is this big in size can cause “global disruption”.
About 500,000 years ago a meteor hit India at Lonar in Maharashtra. Now, a crater lake which is more than a square kilometer marks the site of collision.
NASA’s mission to prevent potential crises.
The leading space agencies in the world are likely to launch various missions not only to study the Apophis’ trajectory and to learn more about its composition.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was the first American spacecraft to bring back the samples from an asteroid, and now it is being retargeted to meet the Apophis. Similarly, another mission by the European Space Agency called Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (RAMSES) might launch in 2028. Dr Somanath mentioned that India might join this mission.
There are numerous ways to push the asteroid away from Earth. One such method is by hitting the asteroid by a spacecraft like NASA’s DART or by using a ‘gravity tractor’ to deflect the asteroid or using a high speed ion beam to change its direction, but the last step can always be the use of nuclear explosives to detonate the asteroid.