DART Mission Smashed An Asteroid. Then An Unexpected Twist
Image: Pixabay
5 April 2024
NASA's asteroid-deflection mission may have sent dozens of boulders on a collision course with Mars, a new study suggests
Image: Unsplash
The mission, called DART, was sent in 2022 and deliberately crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid called Dimorphos
Image: Pixabay
The purpose of the mission was to change the orbit of the asteroid, and the trajectory of its larger rock Didymos
Image: Pixabay
DART was designed as a pilot programme for deflecting potentially deadly near-Earth asteroids
Image: Pixabay
Scientists considered DART a huge success, claiming it totally changed Dimorphos' shape
Image: Unsplash
But now, an unexpected consequence of the mission has come to light
Image: Unsplash
A new study has said that the collision sent a swarm of 37 boulders measuring up to 22 feet flying into the cosmos
Image: Pixabay
Thankfully, none of boulders are on course to strike Earth, and might end up on Mars
Image: Unsplash
The study highlights an important aspect for missions like these - that it can launch debris into space
Image: Pixabay
So, hitting an asteroid without understanding its trajectory can do more harm than good, the study said
Image: Pixabay
Check More Stories
Image: Reuters
Image: Unsplash
Image: Pixabay
ndtv.com