The asteroid Apophis, discovered in 2004, has garnered significant attention due to initial predictions in which there was a concerning 2.7% chance of it colliding with Earth in April 2029. Such an impact could potentially devastate a region the size of a city. However, subsequent analyses have shown that the likelihood of impact in the next century is negligible. Interestingly, on April 13, 2029, Apophis will pass extremely close to Earth, at a distance of just 32,000 kilometers, making it visible to the naked eye—a rare event for an asteroid of this size.

As a result of this impending close encounter, various space agencies, including those from the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China, are planning comprehensive missions to observe Apophis before, during, and after its flyby. Among these missions, an American company called ExLabs has announced that its main spacecraft, dubbed "ApophisExL," has successfully passed a critical evaluation phase ahead of its planned launch in 2028. This spacecraft is designed to carry up to 10 different spacecraft and instruments from various clients, including two landers intended to study the asteroid closely.

The interest in Apophis highlights not only the potential threats posed by near-Earth objects but also the advancements in international space exploration cooperation. With its close approach, Apophis presents a unique opportunity for scientific exploration that may yield insights into the composition and dynamics of asteroids, further enhancing humanity's understanding of these celestial bodies and our ability to respond to similar threats in the future.