NASA warning: Asteroid 2017 BU to come terrifyingly close to Earth today! Clocked at 25200 kmph | Tech News

NASA warning: Asteroid 2017 BU to come terrifyingly close to Earth today! Clocked at 25200 kmph

Asteroid 2017 BU will pass Earth at a terrifyingly close distance today, August 29. Here's what NASA says about the asteroid.

By: SHAURYA TOMER
| Updated on: Aug 29 2022, 11:14 IST
This asteroid is worth $10,000 Quadrillion
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1/6 hereas other asteroids are generally made up of ice or rocks, this unique asteroid is made up of nickel, which is one of the building blocks of the solar system. One of the biggest asteroids in our Solar System, the 16 Psyche asteroid is made up of gold, nickel and iron deposits and is supposedly worth more than Earth's economy. The asteroid is worth nearly $10,000 Quadrillion. (NASA)
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2/6 The Psyche Mission will also help scientists to study and understand iron cores, a previously unexplored building block of planet formation. The 16 Psyche asteroid mission is a part of NASA's Discovery missions. (Pixabay)
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3/6 The findings of this mission could enable scientists to develop a way of using asteroids as resources. Asteroids could come in handy when building structures in space, such as bases on other planets or even the Moon. Due to their 85 percent metal structure, they could be an excellent source of minerals. It is even said that the raw materials extracted from asteroids could even exceed the metal reserves present on Earth. (NASA)
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4/6 The mission has been in the phase known as assembly, test, and launch operations since March 2021. Since the launch window is limited, scientists and engineers have worked round the clock in order to finish the spacecraft's assembly in time. However, due to unexpected software issues, the mission has now been delayed and pushed to 2023. (NASA)
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5/6 NASA said, "Due to the late delivery of the spacecraft's flight software and testing equipment, NASA does not have sufficient time to complete the testing needed ahead of its remaining launch period this year, which ends on October 11. The mission team needs more time to ensure that the software will function properly in flight." (NASA)
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6/6 In order to reach the asteroid, the spacecraft will fly by Mars for a gravity assist in May 2023 and, in early 2026, orbit around asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA says that the Psyche mission is expected to launch in both 2023 and 2024, but due to the uncertainties, the exact dates of these potential launch periods are yet to be determined. (NASA)
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NASA says that two asteroids named Asteroid 2017 BU and Asteroid 2022 QX4 will come terrifyingly close to Earth today, August 29. (HT_PRINT)

August has witnessed numerous asteroid flybys. According to NASA, more than 35 asteroids have already flown past Earth this month. Some have been too close for comfort. Continuing this pattern, another asteroid named Asteroid 2017 BU will pass Earth today, August 29 at a terrifyingly close distance. This space rock is not expected to impact with Earth, however that could change if the asteroid's trajectory changes due to the pull by Earth's gravitational field. Here's what NASA says about the asteroid.

Asteroid 2017 BU to come terrifyingly close to Earth today

Asteroid 2017 BU is one of two asteroids which are expected to pass by Earth today by a close margin. The other asteroid, named Asteroid 2022 QX4 will also just miss the planet today. Asteroid 2017 BU, which is nearly 100 feet wide, is travelling towards Earth at a staggering speed of 25,200 kilometers per hour. NASA says that it will just miss Earth by a distance of nearly 6 million kilometers.

According to Sky.org, Asteroid 2017 BU takes 376 days to complete one trip around the Sun. Its maximum distance from the Sun is 191 million kilometers and minimum distance is 114 million kilometers.

NASA Psyche Mission to reach $10 billion asteroid

The Psyche Mission will also help scientists to study and understand iron cores, a previously unexplored building block of planet formation. The 16 Psyche asteroid mission is part of NASA's Discovery missions. The findings of this mission could enable scientists to develop a way of using asteroids as resources.

Whereas other asteroids are generally made up of ice or rocks, “16 Psyche” asteroid is made up of nickel, which is one of the building blocks of the solar system. One of the biggest asteroids in our Solar System, the 16 Psyche asteroid is made up of gold, nickel and iron deposits and is supposedly worth more than Earth's economy. The asteroid is estimated to be worth nearly $10,000 Quadrillion.

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First Published Date: 29 Aug, 11:14 IST
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