NASA declared an expansive 2.5 km-wide rock was barrelling towards Earth with a “low probability of impact” in early 2019. The space agency calculated the space debris – dubbed 2002 NT7 – was speeding toward us at 60,000mph. And NASA scientists even supplied estimations for the potential impact, announcing an unlikely collision could take place on February 1.
But NASA’s apocalyptic prediction was thankfully retracted after four days of fear-mongering, after the risk impact calculations were re-run.
The sinister space rock will harmlessly skim past our planet on January 13 at a harmless distance of almost 40 millions miles away – a distance further-flung than Mars.
Conspiracy theorists, however, remain unconvinced and instead have cried cover-up rather than accepting it was a simple recalculation.
The 2002 NT7 asteroid was amongst one the first asteroids to receive a “impact risk positive” rating.
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This made a collision with Earth far more likely than winning the US lottery.
Scientists allowed such a long period to pass before announcing the recalculation in order to crunch impossibly complex numbers.
Yet despite this categorical denial about any impending impact, the internet remains abuzz about the asteroid – with articles and videos continuing to be published throughout 2018.
Conspiracy websites are among those accused the prestigious space agency of “changing its story” about the asteroid.
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And this about a space rock categorically not considered a threat for more than 16 years.
Revered NASA scientist Dr Don Yeomans said at at the time: “We can now rule out an impact possibility for February 1, 2019.”
Other online posts have been forced to continually debunking the supposed claims of an impending cataclysmic doomsday event.
One thing is certain, however. Such an asteroid impact would threaten life on Earth as we know it, with a long-term nuclear winter almost inevitable.
Due to the apocalypse nature of an asteroid strike, NASA is constantly on the look out for rogue space rocks.
NASA predicts a rock the size of 2002 NT7 would have “worldwide effects” should it ever collide with Earth
Conspiracy theorists believe the US government’s National Near Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan is insufficient should 2002 NT7 barrel into earth.
YouTuber Justin Knight, who hasruns the popular Dahboo77: Underground World News channel is among those who is skeptical about the 2002 NT7 revisions.
The self-described truthseeker produced a feature on the asteroid that has been viewed more than 118,000 times – questioning the official story from NASA.
And conspiracy blog website Space.news has also questioned whether there has been a cover-up by NASA.
One article described the space agency’s U-turn as “suspicious” and questioned whether it was “sincere or devious”.
2002 NT7 will return in 41 years time, with another relatively close fly past predicted in February 2060.
NASA planetary defence officer Lindley Johnson recently laid out the space agency’s new strategy.
“This plan is an outline not only to enhance the hunt for hazardous asteroids, but also to better predict their chances of being an impact threat well into the future and the potential effects that it could have on Earth,” he said.