Spacecraft to meet asteroid set to whisk past Earth in 2029 | Airlines

A mission to launch a European spacecraft that will rendezvous with a 375-meter-wide asteroid that is scheduled to whisk by Earth in 2029 has taken a step closer to being realized.

On July 16, 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that preparatory work for its next planetary defense mission can progress after receiving permission from the Space Safety program board.

The Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) will see a spacecraft meet with asteroid Apophis and accompany it through its safe but exceptionally close flyby of Earth in 2029.

During the mission, scientists will observe how the asteroid Apophis is “warped and changed by our planet’s gravity” which will help prepare Earth for the possibility if a hazardous asteroid is ever on a collision course with the planet.

“There is still so much we have yet to learn about asteroids but, until now, we have had to travel deep into the Solar System to study them and perform experiments ourselves to interact with their surface,” said Patrick Michel, Director of Research at French National Centre for Scientific Research in Nice.

‘For the first time ever, nature is bringing one to us’

He added: “For the first time ever, nature is bringing one to us and conducting the experiment itself. All we need to do…

Source www.aerotime.aero

We use income earning auto affiliate links. More on Sponsored links.

> Cheap Flights and Hotels!
Several ways to buy cheap airline tickets.
- Start searching at least 2 months in advance and sign up for email alerts so you'll always be notified when flight prices drop.
- Budget airlines typically offer the cheapest flights.
- Save money by taking your flight early in the morning or late at night.
- Consider flying on a weekday instead of a weekend.
- Use an aggregator site to compare prices across airlines.
- Once you have found the best trip, select it on the aggregator site and move to the airline’s direct website to book your tickets. Some aggregators allow you to book the ticket through their website, but there may be an additional service fee.
  1. Discover amazing things to do on your vacation! with Viator – A Tripadvisor Company
  2. Save up to 50% on advance bookings with Viator – A Tripadvisor Company
  3. Roam the world Viator helps you explore the world, right from home, with our Roam From Home series of tours and activities

Viator – A TripAdvisor Company

Related Posts

Volunteer Spotlight — Linda Thorn

This piece originally ran in the October 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine. Linda Thorn, EAA 842022, was honored at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 as the Dorothy Hilbert Volunteer Award winner. Linda is from a small town near West Bend, Wisconsin, and she started volunteering for EAA around 23 years ago, falling in love with the work and the…

Former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza dies at 62 | Airlines

Ben Baldanza, former Spirit Airlines CEO and a well-known personality in the US airline industry, passed away on November 5, 2024, at the age of 62.  Baldanza, who was at the helm of Spirit Airlines between 2005 and 2016, led the transformation of Spirit Airlines into an ultra-low-cost carrier. Although it became the target of public criticism at the time, elements…

Airbus delivered 62 new aircraft in October 2024 | Airlines

Airbus has announced its new order and delivery numbers for October 2024, surpassing the deliveries made in September 2024.  The company reported that it received orders for 82 new aircraft in October 2024, consisting of both single-aisle and widebody aircraft. So far in 2024, the number of orders totals 749 aircraft, namely 549 single-aisle, 64 A330s and 136 A350s. The…

A Full-Circle Celebration – Plane & Pilot Magazine

As we climbed into the practice area, I wiggled the wings a little, still mesmerized at how much power lay at my fingertips. Even at 60 knots over VY, we were still climbing at a rate that would shock the private students we’d just left below and behind in the pattern. With each wiggle and movement, the airplane bobbed accordingly,…

Treasury spares milk, bread from VAT hike, targets airline industry in new tax review | Airlines

National Treasury CS John Mbadi when he met with the KRA team and the Council of Economic Advisors to discuss the digitalisation of revenue collection in Nairobi on September 24, 2024. (Photo: National Treasury) The airline industry is set to face a 16 per cent VAT in the new Treasury tax review, with air tickets, aircraft parts, and related services…

TCS signs multi year deal with Air France-KLM to modernise the airline group’s data | Airlines

The logo of Air France-KLM Group. Representational image. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Tara Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) has signed a multi-year deal to help Air France-KLM become a data-centric airline group. Over the next three years, TCS will modernise the airline group’s data by moving it to cloud, promoting the next generation of data-driven aviation.  “This shift will help Air France-KLM exit…

Spanish operator Isla Air Express prepares to begin flights | Airlines

Isla Air Express is a new Spanish airline based in Palma de Mallorca and is preparing to begin commercial seaplane services in the coming months. Backed by German investors and operating under the Maltese Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of sister company Mediterranean Coastal Airlines, the carrier intends to begin inter-island flights around the Spanish archipelago of the Balearic Islands using…

With xBridge, Pittsburgh International Airport is positioning itself as a beacon for the airline industry’s digital transformation voyage | Airlines

The patchy hues of pale blue and cream carpet that line the hallways of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) are dimly lit. Its vintage decor is a nod to its heyday as a major transportation hub. With four runways and 10,000-plus acres of land, the airport was once a major beacon of travel – with 100-plus direct flights taking off daily…

Former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza Has Passed Away | Airlines

Former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza Has Passed Away by Gary Leff on November 6, 2024 Today’s episode of Airlines Confidential leads with Scott McCartney sharing the news that former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza passed away last night. Before we begin this week’s podcast, we have a heartbreaking announcement to make. Ben Baldanza passed away last night after a…

Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1960 Cessna 172A Skyhawk

Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur. Source www.planeandpilotmag.com

The impact of tourist taxes on airlines | Airlines

Adiel Mambara, Country Manager for Royal Brunei Airlines in the UK, explains the impact of tourist taxes on the aviation industry.   This interview is the second part of a contribution which focuses on tourist taxes. The first part provides an overview of these taxes, covering their history, evolution since the COVID-19 pandemic, allocation of generated revenue, and their impact…

Leonardo sells 10 AW189 helicopters to leasing company GDHF | Airlines

Leonardo announced on November 5, 2024, that it had closed a deal with helicopter leasing company GDHF for 10 AW189s super medium-sized helicopters.   The 10 helicopters will be delivered between 2027 and 2029 and allocated to users in the energy industry, including offshore wind farm servicing and search and rescue (SAR) connected with these activities.  GDHF has been an…

Southwest Airlines names IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal as Chairman, ETHRWorld | Airlines

Rakesh Gangwal New Delhi: Billionaire and IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has been appointed as the Chairman of American carrier Southwest Airlines. Gangwal, who joined the board of Southwest in July this year, had also acquired shares worth USD 108 million of the airline recently. His appointment as the board chair comes a little over a week after Southwest settled issues…

Airline industry jobs in Vancouver offering sky-high wages | Airlines

A career in the airline industry can be thrilling, potentially sending you all over the world, and many jobs are currently available in Vancouver. Many of the roles offered by airlines pay quite well and come with great benefits, especially if you love to travel. These are some of Vancouver’s most lucrative airline opportunities, from flight attendants to technicians. Jazz…

Zenith: My Very Limited History With the Company

By Mike Davenport, Vancouver, British Columbia A recent flight in the Zenith company’s best-selling aircraft to date, the CH750 STOL, reminded me that I have had a small involvement with them for some time. I also discovered a 1973 magazine article that related the story of Chris Heintz in the very early days, so I just had to share some…

RAAF deploys Poseidon P-8A to Japan for Operation Argos | Airlines

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed a P‑8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in Japan as support for Operation Argos. Operation Argos is the United Nations (UN) Security Council multinational efforts to enforce sanctions against North Korea. The sanctions limit North Korea’s imports of refined petroleum and crude oil and its exports of coal, all of which are facilitated…

Southwest Airlines names IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal as Chairman | Airlines

IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has been appointed as the Chairman of American carrier Southwest Airlines. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Billionaire and IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has been appointed as the Chairman of American carrier Southwest Airlines. Mr. Gangwal, who joined the board of Southwest in July this year, had also acquired shares worth USD 108 million of the airline…

20 Degrees Left – Plane & Pilot Magazine

a picture is worth a thousand words, they say. But a recent crash shows you shouldn’t always trust a picture, even if it’s a compelling next-generation digital color presentation. The pilot had planned a day trip for himself and two passengers from Myerstown, Pennsylvania, to Washington, Indiana. The outbound trip was apparently uneventful. They conducted church business in Indiana and…

IndiGo co-founder named chair of Southwest Airlines board | Airlines

Indian businessman Rakesh Gangwal, co-founder of low-cost carrier IndiGo, has been appointed independent Chair of the Southwest Airlines board of directors, replacing Executive Chairman Gary Kelly.  Kelly served in this role since 2008, when he took over the roles of Chairman and CEO from Southwest Airlines’ co-founder Herb Kelleher.  This appointment takes place amid a reshuffling of the airline’s board,…

US investment firm acquires ATSG in $3.1 billion deal | Airlines

The US investment firm Stonepeak has acquired aircraft lessor Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) in a $3.1 billion deal that is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2025.  On November 4, 2024, Stonepeak and Air Transport Services Group announced that the two companies had “entered into a definitive agreement” in an “all-cash transaction”.  The agreement, which will…