WASHINGTON: Scientists at Nasa have said that an asteroid lost over a decade ago is back, and it could hit the earth with the force of 2.6 billion tons of TNT this year, though the chances are slim, Western media reported on Monday.
As per media reports Nasa in a statement said that asteroid FT3, first found and then lost in 2007, has a 1 in 10 million chance of striking the Earth on October 5.
Scientists say the force of such a collision wouldn’t be planet-ending, but it could damage a continent significantly.
They say it is highly likely that the earth will escape the collision.
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As per reports the actual threat to Earth, is asteroid 29075. That asteroid would hit the planet with the force of 75 billion tons of TNT, and that’s enough to end humanity.
That asteroid has a 1 in 34,500, chance of colliding the Earth on March 16, 2880.
When the drop-off happens, the ejected capsule will be taken to the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range outside Salt Lake City.
Later the sample will be sent to Houston from where the samples will be documented and distributed to scientists around the world.
