P2_7 Close Encounters of the Unkind

Abstract

 

Possible effects on satellites in Earth orbit caused by the unusually close encounter between the asteroid 9942 Apophis and Earth in 2029 are assessed. A worst case scenario for GPS, the most important system at risk, showed that the gravitational perturbation of orbits is negligible. Furthermore, it was found that Apophis will remain intact during the encounter, as its closest possible approach occurs at approximately twice the Roche limit.