Details about the Russian mission to Apophis have become known

The Russian mission to the asteroid Apophis will help clarify its origin. Details of a possible TASS celestial body research program became known from Vladislav Osedlo, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Research Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University (MSU Nuclear Physics Research Institute).

The specialist noted that the technical parameters of the spacecraft, which can be sent to the asteroid, are currently being worked out. In particular, the mission may receive a gamma spectrometer.

“By gamma radiation of a substance, it is possible to remotely determine its elemental composition and obtain fundamentally new information about the origin and evolution of the asteroid’s substance,” the scientist said.

In July, Space.com noted that on April 13, 2029, Apophis will be visible to the naked eye by approximately 90 percent of earthlings (about 7.6 billion people).

In April, TASS reported that the Research Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University wanted to send a satellite to Apophis.

In 2029, the asteroid will pass at a distance of 32 thousand kilometers from Earth, which is closer than the altitude of the orbits of geostationary satellites. The diameter of the asteroid is about 375 meters, which corresponds to the height of a skyscraper.