NASA intentionally crashed DART into Dimorphos in 2022 to test whether humanity could ever safely divert a dangerous asteroid.
The target is Dimorphos, a small moon orbiting a larger asteroid named Didymos; it is ideally suited for clearly measuring orbital changes.
The DART impact successfully reduced Dimorphos's orbit around Didymos, thereby proving that kinetic impact can serve as a viable planetary defense strategy.
Scientists have discovered that this collision sent a massive amount of debris flying into space, thereby amplifying the deflection effect beyond that of the spacecraft's impact alone.
Europe's 'Hera' spacecraft is currently traveling to the asteroid system to investigate its crater, mass, shape, and internal structure.
Hera will help scientists understand exactly how DART altered Dimorphos, transforming a dramatic collision into a defense strategy that can be repeated in the future.
This is the first time humans have intentionally altered the trajectory of a celestial object; it stands as a pivotal milestone in the field of space.
Neither Didymos nor Dimorphos poses a threat to Earth, but this experiment demonstrates how to take proactive measures to protect our planet from future crises.
The close observations conducted by Hera will reveal how asteroids physically respond after a collision-including rock piles, dust movements, and hidden surprises.
NASA's DART and ESA's Hera missions are working together to create the world's first practical model for protecting Earth from asteroids in the future.