NASA: DART mission a huge success, study concludes

In 2021, NASA launched the DART mission, which was nothing more than a test to evaluate the effectiveness of using space impactors as tools to deflect potentially dangerous asteroids. After reaching the asteroid Dimorphos, the mission is reported as a success. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that its orbit was altered.

See more details on this subject below.

Technologies have become fundamental to Earth's survival

Unfortunately, we still have access to few techniques that are really capable of protecting the Earth from celestial bodies considered dangerous. Some studies that are already known involve very complex challenges.

What about the nuclear option? Wouldn't it be beneficial?

Even if the results of this alternative have been positive so far, all of this is nothing more than some probabilities. When it comes to real life, nobody really knows how an asteroid will behave.

What is the best option currently available?

For NASA, the most viable option is what we call a kinetic impactor. Basically, you load a probe with dense material and accelerate it at extreme speed towards an asteroid.

In one experiment, the impact velocity was estimated at 22,531 km/h. And one of the targets chosen was an asteroid 177 meters in diameter, which makes up the binary system 65803 Didymos.

NASA was surprised by the result

The agency claimed that the mission would be a success if Dimorphos' orbit was altered by at least 73 seconds, however the results were surpassed. From 11 hours and 55 minutes to go around Didymos A, the time dropped to 11 and 23 minutes.

What was the significance of the DART mission for astronomers?

You astronomers concluded that the mission was very important to confirm the feasibility of diverting asteroids from Earth in dangerous paths. They said that, lucky for us, there is nothing on the horizon that is even remotely dangerous for us, so NASA and other space agencies will be able to further refine the technology.