Major consequences = inconveniencing them in their research

Not even that. According to the article it's a great research opportunity. Just there is a tiny chance human space debris might hit the asteroid and inconvenience them in their research of the asteroid

It couldn't possibly make this fly-by on the first, though, could it? 🤞🏼😅😶

As it skims within a cooee of Earth, our planet's gravity will tug on it strongly enough to alter its spin, potentially trigger landslides and even asteroid quakes, and perhaps reveal what's hidden beneath its surface. Two spacecraft – ESA's RAMSES mission and NASA's OSIRIS-APEX – plan to watch the encounter unfold in unprecedented detail.

And there was actual interesting science to put in the headline!

Last day of the month, and the aftereffects will be felt on Mayday.

They missed such an opportunity. 🤪