ESA Signs 63 Million Euro Contract for Ramses Mission to Apophis

Oct 17, 2024, 02:15 PM

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a 63 million Euro contract with OHB Italia SpA to develop the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). The mission aims to rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis and accompany it during its close encounter with Earth in 2029. The Ramses mission, which must launch in early 2028, has a development timeline of 3.5 years. This contract signing marks the official commencement of phase one of the Ramses planetary protection mission, highlighting ESA's commitment to space safety.