MILAN — The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken the first big steps toward rendezvousing with an asteroid due to make a close approach to Earth in 2029.
ESA signed a contract worth €63 million (about $68 million US at current exchange rates) with OHB Italia at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) here on Thursday (Oct. 17), allowing teams to proceed with phase 1 of mission development.
