Story perspectives

ExLabs Plans 2029 Apophis Mission to Test Deflection Options

5/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

ExLabs announced the commercial deep-space Apophis EX mission, which will rendezvous with asteroid Apophis on April 13, 2029.
Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, urged the government to act as a single customer to cut costs.
David Bearden of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the mission must test gravity-tractor, ion-beam, kinetic and nuclear methods.
Edward Lu, astronaut and Institute head, said spacecraft can be built and launched within a year.

1 of 1

Story summary

ExLabs announced the commercial deep-space Apophis EX mission, which will rendezvous with asteroid Apophis on April 13, 2029.
Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, urged the government to act as a single customer to cut costs.
David Bearden of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the mission must test gravity-tractor, ion-beam, kinetic and nuclear methods.
Edward Lu, astronaut and Institute head, said spacecraft can be built and launched within a year.