Russia may send spacecraft to knock away an asteroid

Russia's space agency chief said yesterday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though US scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.

Anatoly Perminov said the space agency would hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis.

He said his agency might invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project.

When the 270-m asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated its chances of smashing into earth in its first flyby, in 2029, at 1-in-37. Further studies have ruled out the possibility of an impact in 2029.