I WAS EXPECTING AN EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOM: Asteroid to Give Earth a Close Shave Next Week. At its closest approach, the asteroid will come within 17,000 miles of Earth. That’s close enough, in astronomical terms, Lewis says, ‘to give you a haircut without breaking your skin. This is really close.’ The asteroid will pass within the 22,000-mile orbit of geosynchronous communications satellites, but above the International Space Station, which orbits between 230 and 286 miles from Earth.”