Two years ago today, NASA made history when its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully slammed a spacecraft into an asteroid, showing humanity’s first step toward planetary defense through kinetic impact. .
This collision occurred on September 26, 2022 and was captured on video, giving scientists and the public an unprecedented view of this groundbreaking experiment.
According to NASA, the target of the DART mission was Dimorphos, a small moon orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos. As the spacecraft approached its target at a speed of 14,000 mph, it transmitted a series of detailed images to NASA servers on Earth.
Watch the NASA video:
All of these final moments were broadcast live by NASA, allowing viewers around the world to witness this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The video shows the camera view of DART as it accelerates toward Dimorphos, with the asteroid growing to fill the frame. The final image, taken seconds before impact, reveals a rocky, uneven surface before the power is cut off.
After the collision, a global network of telescopes observed the Didymos-Dimorphos system and found that DART successfully altered Dimorphos’ orbit by 32 minutes, exceeding NASA’s minimum goal by a factor of 25.
This mission represents a major step forward in planetary defense, demonstrating that we can intentionally change the trajectory of an asteroid. The success of DART not only enhances our capabilities but also increases interest in asteroid research and planetary defense.
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