Historic Flyby of 'God of Darkness' Asteroid Apophis: A New Cosmic Journey for OSIRIS-APEX
In a thrilling turn of events, the spacecraft formerly OSIRIS-REx was rebranded as OSIRIS-APEX and set on an unprecedented mission to explore the enigmatic asteroid Apophis . Name taken from the ancient Egyptian god of darkness , this asteroid's upcoming flyby of Earth in 2029 promises to be a monumental event unseen since recorded history began. OSIRIS-APEX: A New Mission Unfolds After a successful seven-year, four billion-mile journey collecting samples from asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-REx's mission was extended . With its instruments in top condition and plenty of fuel left, NASA decided to repurpose the spacecraft for a new mission: exploring Apophis. This decision marks a significant progression in the spacecraft's journey as it transitions from Bennu's carbon-rich terrain to Apophis, an S-type asteroid composed of silicate materials and nickel-iron. Apophis: An Unprecedented Close Encounter Approximately 367 yards (340 meters) across Apophis will pass within 20,0...