![ESA prepares for close encounter with Asteroid Apophis in 2029](https://cdn.newsserve.net/ONPglobe256.png)
ESA prepares for close encounter with Asteroid Apophis in 2029
Paris, France (SPX) Jul 17, 2024
Thirty years ago, on July 16, 1994, astronomers witnessed the dramatic collision of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet with Jupiter, sparking significant interest in planetary defence and raising the question: "Could we prevent such an event from happening to Earth?" Today, ESA's Space Safety programme takes a significant step towards answering this question. The programme has been authorized to b