Tag: DART asteroid mission

Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 9 March 2023: Asteroid Dimorphos shot after CRASH

Hollywood has depicted the apocalypse, with movies such as Deep Impact, Armageddon, and Don't Look Up exploring the hypothetical scenarios of global annihilation through the collision of asteroids with Earth. NASA has already provided an answer for those who have wondered about the consequences of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.Last year, NASA carried out its first ever planetary defense test by smashing a spacecraft into an approaching asteroid with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) to alter its course. NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day is a thrilling picture of the Dimorphos asteroid, captured just 3 seconds before the collision. It was a $330 million venture which proved to be a success as the target asteroid named Dimorphos deflected off its path. While t...
Technology

DART mission’s 500kg spacecraft to crash into asteroid on this date; Watch it online for free here

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will crash a 500kg spacecraft into an asteroid for a safe planetary defence test. Know where to watch it for FREE. NASA is ready to make an attempt to deflect an asteroid via Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) on September 26. The process would involve crashing a 500kg spacecraft into an asteroid moonlet. The binary asteroid system consists of Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. The asteroid mission is to change their trajectory. DART will re-route the asteroid by using kinetic impact. The spacecraft is designed to smash into the smaller member of the binary asteroid system. It's a part of NASA's larger planetary defence strategy to safeguard Earth in case of an asteroid that is ac...
Technology

BEWARE! DART asteroid hunting mission can be disastrous for Earth if tech gets into wrong hands

The DART mission to redirect an asteroid is billed as potentially planet-saving. But in the wrong hands it has seriously destructive potential. The DART mission to redirect an asteroid is billed as potentially planet-saving. But if the tech gets in the wrong hands, it has seriously destructive potential. In September 2022 an event of planetary importance will take place. With the assistance of a privately funded rocket, NASA's DART mission will test the feasibility of redirecting an asteroid. The mission is, in NASA's words, “to test and validate a method to protect Earth in case of an asteroid impact threat”. NASA's spacecraft will crash head-on into a small asteroid called Dimorphos, with the aim of altering its orbit arou...