NASA successfully kicks asteroid off course in Earth defence test In a groundbreaking test of planetary defense, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022 successfully altered the trajectory of an asteroid, marking the first time a human-made object has measurably changed the path of a celestial body around the Sun. The experiment, conducted on the asteroid Dimorphos, involved intentionally crashing a spacecraft into the space rock to assess its potential as a method for deflecting Earth-threatening objects. The results, detailed in a new study published Friday, confirm that the impact shifted Dimorphos into a slightly different orbit around its companion asteroid, Didymos, and also altered their shared path around the Sun. The test, which took place four years ago, was not aimed at addressing any real threat to Earth but served as a critical simulation to evaluate humanity’s ability to protect the planet from hazardous space rocks. Researchers emphasized that the experiment provided essential data for future planetary defense strategies. Dimorphos, a small, loosely bound asteroid with an egg-like shape and a rugged surface, was observed in high detail before the DART spacecraft’s impact. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, highlights the significance of the mission as a milestone in space defense technology. The team’s analysis relied on tracking stellar occultations—brief dimming events caused by asteroids passing in front of stars—to achieve hyper-precise measurements of Dimorphos’ position, speed, and shape. Volunteers from around the world contributed to recording 22 such events, enabling the researchers to calculate the asteroid’s orbital changes with remarkable accuracy. The observed shift in Dimorphos’ orbit was minuscule, just 0.#nasa #double_asteroid_redirection_test #dimorphos #didymos #rahil_makadia
