2012 DA14 Will Avoid Impact With Earth

Will miss by 17,150 miles, closer than many satellites

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A 150-foot asteroid hurtled toward Earth's backyard, destined Friday to make the closest known flyby for a rock of its size.

NASA promised the asteroid would miss Earth by 17,150 miles, avoiding catastrophe. But that's still closer than many communication and weather satellites; scientists insisted these, too, would be spared.