We are fewer than four years away from what may be the most significant near-Earth asteroid event of the 21st century. On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis — named for the Egyptian god of chaos — will pass so close to Earth that it will be visible to the naked eye across much of the globe. Nearly a third of a mile wide and weighing over 27 billion kilograms, Apophis will pass just 20,000 miles from Earth — closer than our geosynchronous satellites.

While Apophis poses no immediate danger, it offers an unmatched opportunity to prepare for future threats. Its close approach (on Friday the 13 th ) will mark a historic near miss. Apophis is just one of thousands of potentially hazardous asteroids that demand our attention. And in terms of projecting global space leadership, the nation th

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