The (formerly threatening) asteroid Apophis will make its (safe) pass by the Earth on April 13, 2029. (No coincidence, the UN has also declared 2029 to be the Year of Planetary Defense.) That means four years to prepare scientific observations, hence a science coordination meeting “Apophis T-4 Years.” (Yes, there were Apophis T-5 years meetings, and so forth.) 2029 will be here soon enough; it’s too soon (including flight time) to build a spacecraft via OldSpace operations, and even NewSpace is cutting it a bit close.
Some highlights of the meeting program (hard to pick just a few, they’re all at least a little relevant):
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/technical_program/?session_no=101
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Binzel R. P. et al. The Science Case for Apophis 2029 at T-4 Years to Encounter [#2003]
Fujimoto M. Apophis and Planetary Defense Activity of JAXA [#2011]
Moissl R. et al. ESA Planetary Defence Perspectives on the Apophis 2029 Close Approach with Earth and Beyond [#2022]
Fast K. NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Office Perspective at Apophis T-4 Years
Statler T. S. Maximizing the Scientific Knowledge Gain from the 2029 Apophis Earth Close Approach [#2007]
Farnocchia D. et al. What If Apophis Had Been on an Impact Trajectory for 2036? [#2048]
Brož M. et al. Apophis Source Population and Collisional Probability of Apophis-like Bodies [#2067]
Benner L. A. M. et al. Goldstone Radar Observations of 99942 Apophis in 2029: Detailed Plans [#2058]
Horiuchi S. et al. Southern Hemisphere Asteroid Radar Program (SHARP) and the Apophis Encounter in 2029 [#2037]
Thomas C. A. et al. Near-Future Plans for IAWN Apophis Observing Campaigns [#2066]
Tsuda Y. Planetary Defense Lessons for Apophis 2029 as Learned from Hayabusa2 [#2032]
DellaGiustina D. N. et al. OSIRIS-APEX: NASA’s Apophis Explorer Mission [#2019]
Nolan M. C. et al. OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer Coordination with Observers and Missions, Part 2 [#2024]
Michel P. et al. Science Objectives of RAMSES: ESA’s Rapid Apophis Mission for SpacE Safety [#2012]
Martino P. et al. Operational Design of RAMSES: ESA’s Rapid Apophis Mission for SpacE Safety [#2013]
Arai T. et al. Planetary Defense and the DESTINY+ Mission [#2061]
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Andrade J. E. et al. The Caltech Mission to Apophis: Status and Path Forward [#2050]
Nakamura-Messenger K. et al. ExLabs’ ApophisExL Mission: The Commercial Science Mission to Asteroid (99942) Aphophis [#2056]
Squyres S. et al. Blue Origin’s Blue Ring Spacecraft Enables Detailed Investigation of Apophis Before, During, and After Its Earth Encounter [#2060]
Klesse J. et al. Apophis Interceptor Mission [#2001]
Bell J. F. et al. The Apophis Pathfinder Mission: An Initial Reconnaissance Flyby of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (99942) Apophis Well Before Its Historic 2029 Earth Encounter [#2027]
Rudolph A. R. et al. TERP RAPTOR (Terrapin Engineered Rideshare Probe For Rapid-Response Asteroid Apophis Profiling, Tracking, Observing, and Reconnaissance): Mission Concept Development [#2030]
Golovich N. RA’s CATS: Residual Benefits for an Earth-Bound Apophis Flyby Mission [#2031]
Vance L. D. et al. An Apophis Precursor Mission to Establish High Resolution Topography Prior to 2029 Earth Flyby [#2064]
Tachibana S. et al. Low-Energy, Multi-Impact Experiments on (99942) Apophis: Science Case [#2034]
Walsh K. J. et al. Apophis Kinetic Impact Test and Cratering Experiment After It’s Close Approach to Earth [#2055]
Li J.-Y. et al. International Dialogue on Scientific Collaboration and Exploration for Apophis 2029 [#2023]
Daou D. The International Year for Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defense: 2029 [#2004]
Fienberg R. T. What Scientists Should (and Shouldn’t) Say to the Media and Public About Apophis [#2010]
McGraw A. M. et al. The Asteroid Apophis Social [#2068]
Poster Session: All Topics
Lazzarin M. et al. From Didymos to Apophis: Ground-Based Spectroscopy of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids for Planetary Defense [#2015]
Pigue L. M. et al. Communications Products for Apophis Close Approach from USGS Astrogeology [#2016]
Scheeres D. J. et al. In Situ Observations of Apophis Through Its Earth Close Approach [#2020]
Kleine T. et al. Fast Sample Return from Near-Earth Asteroids [#2035]
Rivera-Valentín E. G. et al. Implications of OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer Measurements for Planetary Defense [#2040]
Okajima L. et al. ALE’s Mass Driver Experiment: Investigating Apophis Surface Dynamics for Planetary Defense and Resource Utilization [#2042]
Ho T.-M. et al. BASTET – A MASCOT-Style Nanolander Investigating the Subsurface of Apophis, Seismicity, and Tidal Forces During Earth Encounter [#2051]
Grundmann J. T. et al. APOSSUM – A Fast Sample Return for a Near-Earth Asteroid: There and Back Again with a System [#2052]
Saedi I. et al. Communication Subsystem for the Thumper Interior Asteroid Probe [#2065]
…just four years to go, everyone. April 2029 will be here whether we’re ready or not…