The space rock is expected to make its closest approach at around 848,000 miles from the Earth, according to NASA.

Now that the Artemis II astronauts are safely home from their moon mission, NASA is investigating how well its spacecraft's heat shield protected the crew during their return.

NASA's Super Guppy is normally based in Texas where it can assist Johnson Space Center in Houston, but the Space Agency sent the B-377-SGT to Lakeland to take part in the annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In. While most aircraft of this age end up retired or in a museum, this workhorse is still working as NASA's flying delivery vehicle.

NASA says of Apophis passing by that it is likely "an event like this has not happened at any time in recorded human history."

People on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere will be able to observe the asteroid with their own eyes, weather permitting, according to NASA.

NASA and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched the NASA Force website on Friday, opening applications for roles aimed at recruiting the nation’s top engineers and technologists to support America’s air and space program.

The Mail cited concerns expressed by former FBI official turned frequent Fox News commentator Chris Swecker, who speculated that “several foreign powers” could be “abducting, blackmailing, torturing and even killing” scientists and other officials as part of a plot to gain access to American national security information.