This company wants to buy a dying satellite to approach the asteroid Apophis in 2029 and photograph it

A dying satellite might get a second chance at life thanks to an audacious Australian plan to repurpose aging space hardware. Sydney-based HEO Robotics wants to purchase a geostationary satellite nearing the end of its operational life and redirect it using remaining fuel to photograph Apophis, a 340-meter asteroid set to make a remarkably close pass by Earth in 2029.

The asteroid will sweep within just 31,600 kilometers of our planet, closer than many satellites orbit, offering scientists an unprecedented opportunity to study how space rocks behave when they encounter a planet's gravitational field. While NASA has already planned multiple missions to observe Apophis, HEO Robotics is pioneering an entirely different approach by essentially giving old satellites new jobs rather than sending them to the typical "graveyard orbit."

The project represents more than just clever recycling. It could establish a new model for space exploration, potentially opening doors for future missions that repurpose existing infrastructure to explore distant corners of the solar system at a fraction of traditional costs.