NASA is preparing for the return of the infamous asteroid Apophis by creating a risky plan to study and potentially deflect it. The menacing asteroid, named after the Egyptian god of chaos, has been a cause of concern for scientists since its discovery in 2004. Although the chances of Apophis colliding with Earth are slim, NASA has deemed it necessary to be proactive and develop strategies to mitigate any potential threat.

As Apophis hurtles through space, it is expected to pass close to Earth in 2029, posing a risk of gravitational interaction that could alter its trajectory and potentially lead to a future collision.

To prevent this scenario, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission aims to redirect an asteroid by crashing a spacecraft into it. However, the plan gets complicated due to the specific characteristics of Apophis.

Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid measuring approximately 1,100 feet in diameter, making it a significant threat if it were to collide with our planet. Its sheer size poses challenges for redirecting it successfully. Additionally, Apophis rotates rapidly every few hours, making it difficult to predict its precise behavior and plan an effective deflection strategy.

To tackle the daunting task, NASA plans to launch the DART mission in November 2021, giving it ample time to reach and impact another small asteroid called Dimorphos. This impact is expected to change Dimorphos' orbit, providing NASA with valuable data on redirecting potentially hazardous asteroids. Dimorphos was chosen as a target because it is similar in size and composition to Apophis, making it an ideal test subject.

The DART spacecraft will travel to Dimorphos and crash into it at a staggering speed of around 15,000 miles per hour. The impact is expected to change the asteroid's orbital period by several minutes, providing concrete evidence of the viability of deflection techniques.

Observatories on Earth and in space will closely monitor the collision and measure any changes in orbit caused by the crash.

NASA's ambitious plan doesn't end there. The European Space Agency (ESA) is also playing a crucial role in the mission. As part of the Hera spacecraft mission, ESA will visit Dimorphos after the DART collision to gather more data and conduct a detailed analysis. This collaborative effort will enhance our understanding of asteroid deflection strategies and potentially inform future actions if a real threat emerges.

In conclusion, NASA is taking proactive measures to study and deflect the asteroid Apophis.

By launching the DART mission and targeting the smaller asteroid Dimorphos, NASA aims to gain valuable insights into deflection techniques. This risky but necessary plan, in conjunction with the efforts of the European Space Agency, will ultimately enhance our ability to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids in the future.