"Preparing for Apophis: Scientists Urge NASA to Send Probe Ahead of Earth's Close Encounter"

Scientists are urging NASA to send a spacecraft to visit the asteroid Apophis before its close approach to Earth in 2029. Once considered a potential collision threat, Apophis is now of great scientific interest. NASA's Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) wants to study the asteroid's interior structure and the consequences of planetary tides. OSIRIS-REx, currently on a mission to asteroid Bennu, is set to embark on an extended mission to Apophis after its close approach. The SBAG also encourages NASA to declare 2029 as the International Year of Planetary Defense.