"Exploring Options: NASA's Mission to Study Hazardous Asteroid Apophis"

NASA is seeking low-cost mission ideas to study the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis as it approaches Earth in 2029. The space agency has twin probes in storage that were originally meant for other missions and could be repurposed for this task. The asteroid's close encounter presents an opportunity to observe its behavior, and NASA is calling for innovative approaches from the private space sector and international agencies. Despite setbacks and budget constraints, NASA remains committed to exploring space and is considering various options for utilizing its spacecraft.