We will present the case for our one great shot to meet asteroid Apophis in 2029. In 2004, an asteroid the size of 5 football fields was discovered and thought to be on a path to impact Earth. It was named Apophis, after the god of Chaos, for its potential to cause widespread global devastation. Subsequent observations have shown that Apophis will barely miss hitting Earth, but on April 13, 2029, it will come so close to Earth’s surface that more than a billion people will see it shinning as brightly as a star moving rapidly across the sky with the naked eye. The event will make the closest Earth flyby of an asteroid in recorded history. While some billion will witness this once-in-a-millennium event, our mission has set sight on harnessing the opportunity to conduct a rare science expedition that would map the surface and interior of Apophis to return data critical to the Earth’s planetary defense. This type of science experiment is only possible once in a lifetime when (1) the subject of observation has been identified early enough for response, (2) is an object of great interest due to its size and trajectory in relation to Earth, and (3) most importantly, coming close enough for our constellation of spacecraft to launch in time to rendezvous with it. Our mission will return data on Apophis’s interior structure, changes in its surface formation, and a photo of the asteroid with Earth in the background.
The mitigation of a future threat is a global issue that requires immense advanced coordination and activation. A rendezvous with Apophis will be a defining moment in our collective history as a small team of scientists, technologists, explorers, and risk takers prepare humanity to meet Chaos on our own terms by demonstrating that we are equipped to defend our planet against future asteroids that threaten our existence.
With the world watching, are we prepared to meet the moment?
16 luglio 2024, 16:30-17:45
Il seminario si terrà in modalità mista: in presenza presso l’Aula 17, Chiostro della Facoltà di Ingegneria, Via Eudossiana 18, Roma, e online tramite l'applicazione Zoom.
Per i seminari erogati dal Dottorato del DISG non è prevista l'assegnazione di crediti formativi nè l'attestazione delle ore di seminario seguite