The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is stepping up its monitoring of asteroid 99942 Apophis, a 370-meter-wide rock nicknamed the “God of Chaos,” which will make a close pass by Earth on April 13, 2029, and again in 2036.
ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath said in an interview with News18 that a large asteroid strike poses a real risk to humanity. “After all, we have only one Earth to live on. India will cooperate with all nations to ward off this and other such future threats,” he said.
Apophis will pass within 32,000 kilometers of Earth in 2029, closer than many satellites in orbit. Although scientists say it is unlikely to hit Earth, even a small change in its path could have serious consequences.
To track the asteroid and other near-Earth objects, ISRO uses its Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) system, based at ISTRAC in Bengaluru. Launched in December 2020, NETRA monitors space debris, space weather, and potential impact threats as part of India’s planetary defense efforts.
Dr. Somanath stressed that studying Apophis is vital to improving global readiness. He said coordinated efforts between space agencies worldwide will be essential in building a reliable defense system to protect Earth from possible future collisions.