Two asteroids, 2023 FT1, and 2023 FG5 are approaching Earth today at fierce speed. Will they collide with Earth? Are NASA, ISRO & ESA doing something?
International space agencies have been monitoring two asteroids that are currently approaching Earth.
NASA is also keeping tabs on two asteroids that are approaching Earth today, with the closest approach expected on April 10, 2023, for 2023 FT1 and 2023 FG5 on the same day.
110-Feet Asteroid 2023 FT1
The first asteroid is named 2023 FT1 and is about 110 feet in size. It is reported to be traveling at a blistering speed of 23,790 kilometers per hour and will cross near Earth today i.e. 10th April, 203.
However the asteroid is not expected to collide with Earth, it will come within close proximity of 74 lakhs kilometers.
77-Feet Asteroid 2023 FG5
The second asteroid that NASA is monitoring is about 77 feet in size and is also expected to make a close approach to Earth today.
The asteroid, named 2023 FG5, is traveling at a speed of 33,840 kilometers per hour and is expected to come within a distance of 36 lakhs kilometers from Earth.
This asteroid is also not expected to pose any threat to Earth.
No Threat To Earth For Now
While the two asteroids being monitored by NASA are not expected to collide with Earth, they serve as a reminder of the potential threat posed by near-Earth objects.
In the past, Earth has been hit by asteroids and comets, causing significant damage and loss of life.
As a result, NASA and other space agencies around the world continue to monitor the skies for potentially hazardous objects and are developing strategies to mitigate the threat posed by these objects.
While both asteroids are not expected to collide with Earth, they highlight the need for continued monitoring and research to identify and track potentially hazardous objects.
The Initiatives To Protect From Asteroids
NASA has already tested its DART Mission for planetary protection to defend against these asteroids that are heading for Earth and could collide there. The asteroid was successfully deflected from its course by the space agency by crashing a spacecraft against it.
ESA is currently preparing to construct an early warning system for hazardous asteroids.
According to the ESA, the spacecraft would be known as NEOMIR (Near-Earth Object Mission in the InfraRed) and would orbit the Earth and Sun at the L1 Lagrange Point in order to discover space pebbles that would otherwise be lost in the Sun’s glare.
Read Also: ISRO Aditya-L1: India’s First Solar Mission
The NEOMIR mission will serve as a system of early alerts for asteroids 20 meters in diameter or larger that can’t be seen from Earth.
The ISRO also inaugurated the ISSA System and the IS4OM center in July 2022 for the protection of space assets.
The ISSA enables the tracking and monitoring of space objects in real-time, while the IS4OM will provide command and control of the Indian Space Force operations.
These facilities will protect space assets and prevent collisions with space debris.
