Asteroids Under Watch: Apophis, Bennu, and Others
Astronomers are already tracking multiple objects that should command insurers’ attention. Among them is asteroid (99942) Apophis, expected to make a startlingly close pass on April 13, 2029, within the orbit of some geostationary satellites. Though no collision is expected, the very proximity raises a chain of liability questions. If a satellite were nudged, disabled, or destroyed by gravitational or debris effects, who pays—the satellite owner, their insurers, or reinsurers spread across global markets?
Bennu, another asteroid of concern, remains under careful watch due to its small but non-zero chance of impacting Earth in the late 22nd century. The OSIRIS-REx mission has already delivered invaluable data on its composition, sharpening the probability curve. But insurers must ask now: do policies written today contemplate an asteroid event in underwriting guidelines? Or will future generations face denials rooted in vague exclusions crafted in an earlier century?
Even smaller asteroids like 2023 BU, which skimmed within geostationary orbit in January 2023, provide sobering reminders that close approaches are frequent, and warning times can be measured in days. In that scenario, preparation cannot wait until the threat is imminent.
