2024-07-08 02:11:22
Washington: A catastrophe is coming to Earth in less than half a decade. A 305 meter wide asteroid is going to come close to Earth, which is named after the Egyptian god of destruction Apophis. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is now keen to study it and participate in the mission to save the planet. Apart from this, it wants to understand it. On the occasion of Asteroid Day 2024, ISRO Chairman S Somnath and senior scientists gave information about this in an international workshop in Bengaluru. ISRO Chief said, ‘When Apophis comes in the year 2029, we should be able to go and meet this asteroid. Then it will be very close to the Earth. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for humanity to work with asteroids. India should be a part of such efforts. It is yet to be decided how India will participate.’ Asteroids are also called time capsules. According to scientists, these are the remains of the early world. This can help in understanding how our world was formed.
Will the meteorite hit the earth
This meteorite will come closest to Earth on 13 April 2029. Then its distance will be 48280 km. Its size is 305 meters wide, which will be visible to the naked eye when it is close to Earth. The possibility of it hitting Earth is negligible at the moment. But it happens sometimes when an asteroid comes so close to Earth. Scientists do not want to miss this opportunity. They will study the way to protect the solar system and Earth from meteorites through asteroids. NASA brought a sample of meteorite last year under the Osiris Rex mission. Now it can run a mission with this asteroid as well. Concepts related to this are being given. According to which its study is included for about two months.
What will be the mission of ISRO?
Explaining the plan related to the mission, the ISRO chief said, ‘It can involve installing an instrument on the joint asteroid Apophis mission of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), and NASA. Or we can be involved in it by providing assistance in some way. We should provide whatever help we can to participate in the mission and learn.’ Earlier, NASA had changed the direction of an asteroid through the DART mission in 2022.