(MENAFN- NewsBytes) NASA has launched a spacecraft on a direct collision course with an asteroid, intentionally. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission intends to test technologies for defense against potential asteroid collisions. DART's target is a secondary asteroid, called Dimorphos, orbiting a larger asteroid, Didymos. However, it isn't an imminent threat to Earth. Here are more details.
Significance Why does this story matter?
To date, asteroids in space have posed an existential threat to humans. While no asteroid larger than 140 meters across has a chance of hitting Earth in the next 100 years, only 40% of these giant celestial orbs have been found. Additionally, systems to disintegrate matter from space entering the atmosphere are also required to tackle space debris that will eventually re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
Bullseye DART will hit the asteroid at 6.6 km/s
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