Scientists plan to study asteroid Apophis for planetary defense

In 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis, larger than the Eiffel Tower, will pass closer to Earth than GPS satellites. The Ramses mission aims to study Apophis to enhance planetary defense against potential collisions. The European Space Agency will fund the mission to gather data on the asteroid's size, shape, and composition. Scientists hope to deflect dangerous asteroids in the future. Other missions like Nasa's Dart are also investigating asteroid deflection methods.