Asteroid clocked at sizzling 51246 kmph on its way to Earth-faster than a ballistic missile

tech.hindustantimes.com:

NASA conducted its first planetary defense test against potential world-ending asteroids recently. Named the Double Asteroid Detection Test or DART test, the mission's aim was to smash a spacecraft into the Dimorphos asteroid to deflect it away from its path. This historic test was successful and the asteroid was actually deflected from its path. This has given humans a weapon and a strategy to stop an asteroid from smashing into Earth. But that isn't enough as adequate warning and time is required to actually deploy it. And what is more, asteroids are making close approaches to Earth every day and new ones are being found on a regular basis. This is what creates the fearful uncertainty in minds.

NASA has warned that an asteroid named Asteroid 2022 YG5 is headed for Earth and is expected to fly very closely past the planet tomorrow, December 30. It will make its closest approach to Earth tomorrow at a distance of just 3.1 million kilometers. NASA says it is already on its way towards Earth, travelling at a staggering speed of 51246 kilometers per hour, which is nearly 5 times as fast as a hypersonic ballistic missile!

According to the-sky.org, Asteroid 2022 YG5 was discovered just days ago on December 24. It belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and takes 829 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. During this trip, its maximum distance from the Sun is 398 million kilometers and its nearest distance is 119 million kilometers.

China is all set to conduct its very own asteroid deflection test by 2025. This is being done in a bid to equip themselves against potential asteroid dangers in the future, as part of the planetary defense system. The Chinese National Space Administration will research the means of planetary