"NASA's Probe Set to Witness Close Encounter with Near-Earth Asteroid in 2029"
NASA's spacecraft OSIRIS-REx, now rebranded as OSIRIS-APEX, is set to rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis during its close encounter with Earth in 2029. The mission, directed by University of Arizona scientists, aims to study the asteroid's composition and behavior, providing insights into planetary formation and aiding efforts to develop a defense system against potential asteroid collisions. The spacecraft will observe Apophis as it passes by Earth, capturing images and data to detect any changes in its surface and motion caused by tidal forces. This close examination of Apophis could help experts devise effective asteroid-deflection strategies.