An asteroid the size of a cruise ship will come closer to Earth than some satellites. A new mission could race to rendezvous with it

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When an asteroid the size of a cruise ship comes within 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13, 2029, it won't be alone.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that its new Ramses spacecraft may accompany the asteroid Apophis before and after its safe, albeit relatively close, pass by Earth.

The space rock, 1,230 feet (375 meters) in diameter, will come closer to our planet than any satellite in its orbit and 10 times closer than the moon. Apophis ...