NASA's DART hit an asteroid in the first ever planetary defense test

NASA made history on September 26, 2022 with the world's first planetary defense test. The DART (Dual Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft collided with an asteroid, 11 million kilometers from Earth.

Photo: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

According to NASA, some of the most powerful telescopes in the world, helped the team of scientists to confirm where the asteroid was located at the moment of impact.

Photo: Lowell Observatory/N. Moskovitz

Carrying out the test did not pose any danger to humanity, rather, its results will serve as a reference if, in the future, planet Earth is threatened by an asteroid.

The successful test means we already have the technology needed to save the Earth from a possible high-impact collision.

The mission began 10 months ago, when DART was launched into space.

Photo: NASA/DART

The DART spacecraft that impacted the asteroid weighs 610 kilograms and measures 1.8 meters wide, 1.9 meters long and 2.6 meters high. At the time of the collision, its speed was 21,600 kilometers per hour.

Robert Braun (pictured), director of the Space Exploration Sector of the Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, said before it happened: “For the first time, we will change the orbit of a celestial body in the universe”.

The target was a near-Earth binary asteroid system composed of 'Didymos', approximately 780 meters in diameter, and 'Dimorphos', approximately 160 meters in diameter. The smallest asteroid, which with DART collided, orbits the largest.

Photo: NASA JPL DART Navigation Team

This was the first mission dedicated to investigating and demonstrating an asteroid deflection method. DART impacted 'Dimorphos', but did not destroy it. The goal was just to change its orbit within the binary system.

photo: NASA

In addition to building DART, Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, also developed DARCO, an asteroid recognition camera for optical navigation, which guided DART towards 'Dimorphos' autonomously.

Photo: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

NASA will compare the impact results with highly detailed computer simulations to best apply it to future planetary defense scenarios.

The task of future Earth defense involves the international scientific community and needs  global cooperation to address the issue.

Scientists chose 'Dimorphos' because it has dimensions similar to other near-Earth asteroids, which could pose a threat.

According to NASA's publication of the mission's objectives, "astronomers estimate that there are tens of thousands of near-Earth asteroids large enough to cause regional devastation if they actually hit us."

On February 15, 2013, a meteor fell on Chelyabinsk, Russia, hitting six cities across the country. “A stark reminder that dangerous objects can enter Earth's atmosphere at any time," NASA said.

Photo: nasa.gov/dart

“This first-of-its-kind mission required incredible preparation and precision, and the team exceeded expectations on all counts,” said APL Director Ralph Semmel.