Empire State Review Contributor 
On July 17, 2025, NASA confirmed that asteroid 2022 YS5—a space rock roughly 100 to 120 feet wide—passed Earth at a safe distance, traveling at speeds exceeding 33,000 km/h. Although close in cosmic terms, the asteroid posed no risk to humanity or Earth’s surface. This event marked another successful demonstration of planetary defense systems in action, underscoring the importance of vigilant Near-Earth Object (NEO) monitoring.
Asteroid 2022 YS5 belongs to the Apollo/Aten class of asteroids, which cross Earth’s orbit but typically stay at a distance. According to data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the asteroid came within approximately 4.15 million kilometers of Earth at its closest approach—well beyond the 7.4 million kilometer threshold for a potentially hazardous object of its size. Despite its harmless passage, the asteroid’s size—comparable to a 10-story building or small airplane—highlighted the importance of tracking even relatively modest NEOs.
Traveling at over 33,000 km/h, YS5 offered a valuable opportunity to test ground-based radar, telescopic observation systems, and international response coordination. Both NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) emphasized the value of such events in validating early warning systems. These events help improve readiness and coordination among agencies in the event a real threat emerges in the future.
The flyby also emphasized the growing importance of international cooperation in planetary defense. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, established in 2016, continues to integrate lessons from missions like the 2022 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which demonstrated that it’s possible to change an asteroid’s trajectory through kinetic impact. Future missions, including the launch of NASA’s NEO Surveyor infrared telescope in 2028, are designed to improve the speed and accuracy of asteroid detection far in advance of any close approaches.
India, through ISRO, has shown growing interest in planetary defense, particularly with the 2029 flyby of asteroid Apophis on the horizon. This expected near pass, which will take the asteroid within 32,000 kilometers of Earth, is prompting additional planning and international collaboration. ISRO, NASA, the European Space Agency, and others are working to ensure that communication, observation, and mitigation protocols are well established and tested.
Though a 120-foot asteroid might seem minor compared to larger celestial bodies, recent history shows even small objects can have significant consequences. The 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor in Russia, originating from a rock only about 20 meters across, caused widespread damage and injuries when it exploded in the atmosphere. The safe flyby of YS5 thus served not only as a relief but also a rehearsal, demonstrating the effectiveness of current detection and response capabilities.
Each asteroid flyby also contributes to scientific understanding. Observations help researchers determine an object’s shape, size, spin, and composition, all of which improve the accuracy of orbital modeling and deflection planning. The information gathered during YS5’s passage will be catalogued and compared against future flybys to refine strategies for planetary defense.
As asteroid YS5 continues its orbit around the Sun, attention will soon turn to other celestial bodies expected to approach Earth. The 2029 Apophis flyby, in particular, is considered a crucial test for global planetary defense systems. Meanwhile, NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard continues to monitor thousands of known NEOs, with many set to pass within relatively close ranges in the coming months and years.
In the interim, agencies like NASA and ISRO remain focused on improving detection systems, expanding global data-sharing networks, and educating the public on space hazards and preparedness. While asteroid 2022 YS5 posed no threat, its flyby served as a powerful reminder of the importance of vigilance, investment, and coordination in protecting Earth from potential cosmic dangers.
