'This is going to be what makes the Earth secure.' How one California company plans to protect us from dangerous asteroids

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — Asteroid Apophis is set to whisk by Earth in 2029 and serve as a wake-up call for getting our planetary defense act together. Astronomers have shown that the huge chunk of extraterrestrial real estate will not hit Earth in 2029 , but will come closer to Earth than our geostationary communications satellites. Radar measurements estimate Apophis is roughly 1,500 feet (450 meters) wide and some 550 feet (170 meters) tall. The April 13, 2029 (conveniently Friday the 13th) Apophis passage will be visible to the naked eye and is stirring up considerable multi-nation action plans to spy on the asteroid at various stages as it careens toward Earth, helping scientists plan for possible planetary defense scenarios . Now, Southern California-based startup Exploration Labs ' (ExLabs) has proposed what it bills as the first commercial deep space ride share mission, known as Apophis EX. At the Space Foundation's 41st Space Symposium this year, held April 13-16, ExLabs says the mission aims to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis before and after its 2029 Earth flyby and deliver unparalleled scientific data for planetary defense, resource prospecting and future deep-space exploration. Commercially driven Today, reaching beyond Earth orbit requires billion-dollar budgets, not to mention decade-long timelines. ExLabs, they say, wants to change that. …