Astronomers have ruled out any chance that the asteroid will collide with our planet for at least the next 100 years.
This fly-by is an opportunity to observe Apophis to learn how future potential threats from space might be deflected.
ESA's Space Safety program approved initial work on the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES), aiming to kickstart mission prep using current resources.
If the RAMSES mission receives full support, it will launch in April 2028, rendezvous with Apophis starting in February 2029, and analyze the asteroid's interactions with Earth's gravity.
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