NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission

SOURCE www.foxnews.com
NASA's DART mission successfully changed the trajectory and shape of the asteroid Dimorphos, demonstrating the ability to protect Earth from potential collisions.

Key Points

  • DART spacecraft collided with the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022
  • Asteroid's shape changed from a ball to a watermelon-like triaxial ellipsoid
  • Orbital path and period of Dimorphos altered by the impact

Pros

  • Successful demonstration of changing a celestial object's trajectory
  • Potential to protect Earth from asteroid collisions

Cons

  • Changes in the shape and orbit of the asteroid