# NASA’s DART Mission Aims to Change Asteroid Trajectories
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Chapter 1: Introduction to DART
If a dangerous asteroid were headed for Earth today, we would be in serious trouble. However, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are gearing up for a groundbreaking test of technology designed to potentially safeguard our planet. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is scheduled to launch soon, and its target has been officially named. The previously known Didymos B is now called Dimorphos.
Astronomers first identified Didymos in 1996, unaware that it would serve as an ideal target for NASA's asteroid redirection technology trials. In 2003, Didymos passed close to Earth, unveiling the existence of its small natural satellite. Didymos itself measures less than a kilometer in diameter, while its moonlet spans approximately 160 meters. After its discovery, astronomers decided to rename the larger body Didymos, which means "twin" in Greek, but the moonlet continued to be referred to awkwardly as “Didymos B.”
DART is designed as a kinetic impactor mission — it will collide with Dimorphos at high velocity. This approach allows scientists to observe the changes in the moonlet's orbit around Didymos, making it a significant object for study. Therefore, it was essential to move away from the cumbersome name Didymos B. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), influenced by a suggestion from Kleomenis Tsiganis, a planetary scientist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and part of the DART team, officially renamed the moonlet “Dimorphos,” which translates to "two forms" in Greek, symbolizing NASA's intention to alter its trajectory.
Section 1.1: DART Mission Overview
In 2022, the DART spacecraft will embark on its journey to the Didymos-Dimorphos system. Weighing approximately 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds in Earth’s gravity), the spacecraft is equipped with minimal scientific instruments. Its sun sensor, star tracker, and a 20 cm aperture camera will assist it in locating and colliding with Dimorphos at a speed of 3.7 miles per second (6 kilometers per second). Alongside DART, the Italian Space Agency will deploy a cubesat that will detach before impact, allowing researchers to observe the immediate consequences. However, a complete analysis will only be possible when ESA's Hera mission arrives at Didymos in 2024, capable of measuring the changes in Dimorphos's orbit precisely.
The first video titled NASA Warns of Giant Asteroid Potentially Hitting Earth in 2024 discusses the potential threats posed by asteroids and the importance of missions like DART in planetary defense.
Section 1.2: Implications of DART's Impact
The results from the DART impact could provide insights into whether brute force is an effective method for deflecting hazardous asteroids and, if so, how much lead time would be necessary to alter their course. Alternatively, this mission may reveal that other strategies, such as using a rocket to gradually push an asteroid or tethering it to a smaller rock, could be more effective for protecting Earth.
Chapter 2: Future Prospects
The second video titled Watch NASA's DART Mission Launch (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Official Broadcast/Stream provides a detailed overview of the DART mission and its objectives, showcasing the significance of this pioneering endeavor in the field of planetary defense.
Now read: Some Asteroids May Be Fragments of a Long-Lost Alien Solar System; NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Executes Low-Altitude Flyover of Asteroid Landing Site; NASA’s Asteroid Probe Spots Black Hole 30,000 Light-Years Away.