MOSCOW, April 7 (UPI) -- Russian scientists said Saturday they plan on binding a satellite with a radio beacon to an asteroid that will pass close to Earth.
The purpose of the project is to find out how big the threat of the asteroid's collision with Earth is, RIA Novosti reported.
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Scientists at Russia's Academy of Sciences said they believe the asteroid, called 99942 Apophis, is the most serious threat to Earth right now.
In 2029, Apophis will pass Earth at a distance of just 36,000 miles, they said, and if it changes trajectory, it could collide with Earth in 2036.
"From technical point of view the mission could be started for implementation from 2015," the Academy said Saturday.
