ESA's Ramses Mission to Study Asteroid Apophis: Unraveling the Mysteries of a Potentially Hazardous Space Rock

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Apophis is a cruise liner-sized S-type asteroid, 1,230 feet across
Apophis was once classified as a potential impact risk but calculations show lower risk now
Data from Ramses and OSIRIS-APEX missions will provide valuable information about Apophis
ESA's Ramses Mission to study asteroid Apophis in 2029
Ramses mission will arrive before Apophis passes Earth and capture observations
ESA's Ramses Mission to Study Asteroid Apophis: Unraveling the Mysteries of a Potentially Hazardous Space Rock

A cruise liner-sized asteroid, named Apophis, is set to make a close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029. The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced plans for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (Ramses) to study this asteroid during its encounter with our planet. This mission offers scientists an opportunity to gather valuable information about Apophis before it passes by, which could aid in understanding the composition and behavior of S-type asteroids like it.

Apophis, measuring 1,230 feet (375 meters) across, will come closer to Earth than some satellites and be visible to the naked eye for around 2 billion people living across most of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. To arrive at Apophis in February 2029, Ramses must launch in April 2028.

The ultimate decision on committing to the mission will take place at ESA's Ministerial Council meeting in November 2025. Understanding the composition of S-type asteroids like Apophis is crucial as they are part of the most common class of potentially hazardous asteroids that pose a threat to our planet.

Ramses will be unique because it would arrive at Apophis before the space rock passes Earth and then essentially ride along to capture observations. Data from both Ramses and NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission will provide valuable information about Apophis, increasing our understanding of asteroid interactions with Earth's gravity.

Apophis is an S-type asteroid, different from other space rocks visited by NASA missions such as Bennu which is a C-type asteroid. S-type asteroids are composed primarily of silicates and nickel-iron, making them denser than C-type asteroids.

The European Space Agency's Ramses mission aims to gather information about Apophis' size, shape, mass, and orbit. This data will help scientists determine how best to deflect such asteroids if they are predicted to be on a collision course with Earth in the future.

Apophis was once classified as holding potential to impact with Earth in 2029, 2036 or 2068. However, recent calculations have shown that the risk of impact is much lower than originally thought. The European Space Agency's Ramses mission will provide valuable insights into this asteroid and help scientists better understand the potential threats posed by other asteroids in our solar system.



Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Is the launch date for Ramses definitively April 2028?
  • What is the exact composition of Apophis and how does it compare to other S-type asteroids?

Sources

98%

  • Unique Points
    • ESA funding early stages of Ramses mission to gather information about Apophis’s size, shape, mass and orbit
    • Apophis was once classified as holding potential to impact with Earth in 2029, 2036 or 2068
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • An asteroid the size of a cruise liner will pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029.
    • The European Space Agency's Ramses spacecraft may accompany the asteroid Apophis before and after its close pass of Earth.
    • Apophis will come so close to Earth that it will be visible to the naked eye for around 2 billion people living across most of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
    • To arrive at Apophis in February 2029, Ramses must launch in April 2028.
    • The ultimate decision on committing to the mission will take place at ESA's Ministerial Council meeting in November 2025.
    • Apophis is an S-type asteroid, different from other space rocks visited by NASA missions, such as Bennu which is a C-type asteroid.
    • S-type asteroids are part of the most common class of potentially hazardous asteroids that pose a threat to our planet.
    • Understanding the composition of S-type asteroids like Apophis could help space agencies determine how best to deflect such asteroids if they are predicted to be on a collision course with Earth.
    • The Ramses mission is unique because it would arrive at Apophis before the space rock passes our planet and then essentially ride along to capture observations.
    • Data from both Ramses and NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission will provide valuable information about Apophis, increasing our understanding of asteroid interactions with Earth's gravity.
  • Accuracy
    • Apophis is an S-type asteroid.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • ESA's Hera mission will survey Didymos and Dimorphos after testing asteroid deflection with NASA’s DART mission
    • Ramses must launch by April 2028 to arrive at Apophis in February 2029 before the historic flyby
  • Accuracy
    • Apophis is expected to change orbit, day length, and possibly reshape its surface during the close encounter with Earth in 2029
    • Scientists have determined that Apophis is not a threat to Earth for the foreseeable future despite earlier concerns of a collision in 2029
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    One informal fallacy found: an Appeal to Authority. The author cites multiple experts and their opinions throughout the article without providing evidence or data to support their claims. This is a common technique used in news articles to make information seem more credible or trustworthy.
    • According to Dani DellaGiustina, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona...
    • Richard Binzel, a planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
    • Paolo Martino, an engineer at ESA leading the Ramses project...
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • The European Space Agency (Esa) has announced funding for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (Ramses) to study asteroid 99942 Apophis during its close encounter with Earth on April 13, 2029.
    • Ramses offers scientists the chance to practice rapid reconnaissance of an asteroid before engaging with it.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    There are no formal fallacies present in the article. However, there is an appeal to authority and a slight exaggeration in describing the asteroid's size. The author states that Apophis is 'larger than the Eiffel Tower', which could be interpreted as an inflammatory rhetorical statement.
    • Larger than the Eiffel Tower
    • The European Space Agency (Esa) has announced funding...Ramses
    • Dr Holger Krag, the head of the Esa's space safety programme office,
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • ESA’s Space Safety programme is preparing for its next planetary defence mission called Ramses.
    • ,
  • Accuracy
    • Apophis will pass within 32,000 km from Earth’s surface on April 13, 2029.
    • Apophis is expected to come this close to Earth only once every 5000 to 10,000 years.
    • Ramses needs to launch in April 2028 and arrive at Apophis two months before the close approach to conduct a thorough survey of the asteroid’s shape, surface, orbit, rotation and orientation.
    • Apophis will miss Earth for at least the next 100 years but its flyby in April 2029 is a rare natural phenomenon.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states 'Researchers anticipate Earth’s tidal forces altering the asteroid’s rotational state and possibly triggering quakes and landslides.' This statement is not a logical conclusion drawn by the author, but rather an expectation expressed by researchers. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used to create a sense of urgency and importance around the topic of planetary defence, such as 'For comparison, a total solar eclipse takes place somewhere on Earth around once every 18 months,' and 'The international collaboration between NASA’s DART asteroid impactor and ESA’s Hera asteroid detective is demonstrating that, in principle, humankind can redirect an asteroid if needed.' These statements do not provide any new information or logical reasoning, but rather serve to create a sense of excitement and importance around the topic.
    • ][Researchers anticipate Earth’s tidal forces altering the asteroid’s rotational state and possibly triggering quakes and landslides].[]
    • For comparison, a total solar eclipse takes place somewhere on Earth around once every 18 months,
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication