MINESPACE
Frequently asked questions about Apophis.
These answers distinguish published asteroid facts, MineSpace’s mission objective and what its simulation does—and does not—represent. Expand any question for the full answer.
When will asteroid Apophis pass Earth?
Asteroid (99942) Apophis is predicted to make its close Earth flyby on Friday, April 13, 2029.
How close will Apophis come to Earth in 2029?
NASA describes a close approach of approximately 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) above Earth’s surface. Values are approximate and may be refined with new observations.
Will Apophis hit Earth in 2029?
No. NASA has ruled out an Apophis impact in 2029 and for at least the next 100 years based on its orbit solution.
Is Apophis bigger than a football field?
Yes. NASA reports a mean diameter of approximately 340 meters (1,115 feet). Its exact shape is not yet known, and radar observations suggest an elongated form.
Can Apophis be seen without a telescope?
NASA says the 2029 flyby could make Apophis visible to the unaided eye in parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. Visibility depends on location, weather, local lighting and sky conditions.
Will the asteroid pass closer than geosynchronous satellites?
Its approximate 32,000 km surface altitude is below the approximately 35,786 km altitude of geosynchronous orbit. Passing inside that altitude does not mean it will collide with a satellite.
Why is the 2029 flyby important to asteroid science?
Earth’s gravitational field will change the asteroid’s path around the Sun and may alter its rotation and surface. Observations before and after the passage can test asteroid dynamics and material-response models.
Does Apophis orbit Earth?
No. Apophis orbits the Sun. It passes Earth in 2029; it is not expected to become a natural satellite of Earth.
What type of asteroid is Apophis?
NASA describes Apophis as a stony, S-type near-Earth asteroid. Its orbit is in the Aten group before the 2029 encounter and is predicted to shift into the Apollo group afterward.
What is MineSpace Mission Zero?
Mission Zero is MineSpace Inc.’s objective to autonomously reach Apophis, match its heliocentric motion and maintain a controlled companion position for as long as a spacecraft can sustain it. The website’s visualizations are simulations, not evidence of a launched spacecraft.
Is the MineSpace spacecraft already flying beside Apophis?
No such flight is claimed. The site presents a mission objective, a conceptual architecture and interactive research demonstrations.
Does MineSpace own or operate NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission?
No. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX is a separate NASA mission. MineSpace Mission Zero is an independently described MineSpace Inc. objective.
Does “forever” mean the spacecraft needs no fuel or maintenance?
No. Indefinite companion flight is a mission aspiration. A realizable duration depends on propulsion resources, orbit design, power, navigation, communications, fault recovery and environmental constraints.
Is the MineSpace visualization a precise JPL ephemeris?
No. The cinematic geometry and companion controller are illustrative. The encounter laboratory uses a documented, idealized two-body model constrained by selected public JPL close-approach reference quantities.
How does Earth’s 2029 gravity assist affect a companion spacecraft?
The flyby changes Apophis’s heliocentric orbit. A companion spacecraft would need a trajectory and relative-navigation strategy that accounts for the encounter rather than following an unchanged pre-2029 path.
Where can I verify Apophis science and close-approach information?
NASA’s Apophis facts and exploration pages, NASA/JPL’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies and ESA’s planetary-defence Apophis page document the object and the 2029 encounter.
Experience Apophis.
Continue into the Earth-encounter model or the autonomous companion demonstrator.