Real-life 'Armageddon': British engineers bid to save Earth from deadly asteroid collision

By NIALL FIRTH

Last updated at 16:55 03 September 2007


Like a scene from the hit film Armageddon, British engineers have joined a competition to try and save the Earth from a catastrophic collision with an asteroid which could be heading our way.

Apophis is a 300-metre-wide asteroid and is still millions of kilometres away.

But, in 2029, its orbit will take it worryingly close to Earth – closer than many satellites.

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When it does, its orbit around the Sun will be affected and just a tiny shift of just a few hundred kilometres could mean Apophis returns in 2036 to slam into Earth, creating unimaginable death and destruction.

UK-based space firm EADS Astrium has bid to develop a spacecraft, known as Apex, which would reach the asteroid in 2014.

Apex will monitor it closely so as to better understand any risk it may pose in the future.

According to the Planetary Society, which is offering a £25,000 prize for the best idea to "rendezvous with and 'tag'" Apophis, something needs to be done to assess the risk.

The Society says on its website: "Will Apophis pass through the "keyhole," the small area on its 2029 path that would cause it to hit Earth on its next orbit in 2036?

"We have to find out, because if an impact is likely to occur, we're going to need all the time possible to plan and implement space missions to deflect it away from Earth."

The full mission would cost several million dollars to develop and run.

According to the Planetary Society, more than 100 teams worldwide are developing plans for Apophis missions.

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