In a historic feat for planetary defense, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully altered the trajectory of an asteroid in September 2022. This marked the first time humanity intentionally changed the motion of a celestial object and demonstrated the viability of using kinetic impactors to deflect potentially hazardous asteroids.
The DART spacecraft deliberately slammed into the smaller asteroid Dimorphos, which orbits a larger asteroid called Didymos. The impact, at a staggering speed of 3.8 miles per second, shaved 32 minutes off Dimorphos' orbital period around Didymos. While this change may seem small, it represents a significant shift for an object in space and proves that kinetic impactors have the potential to nudge asteroids away from a collision course with Earth in the future.
This mission is a significant step forward in safeguarding our planet from the potential threat of asteroid impacts. DART data is providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of this deflection technique, aiding scientists in refining future planetary defense strategies. The success of DART paves the way for further development of asteroid deflection technologies, offering a crucial line of defense for our planet.