How NASA's Asteroid-Deflecting DART Mission Could Save Life On Earth One Day
NASA is all set to smash a rocket into an asteroid in space - strictly for practice purposes in case an asteroid were to head towards Earth.
As the complexities of space become more apparent with better technology, scientists want to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, especially involving giant space rocks that could end life on Earth as we know it.
Smashing into an asteroid isn't simple
NASA's DART mission is trying out something never done before. The spacecraft will purposely collide with Dimorphos to assess if changing the path and speed of a space object is even possible.
If DART goes as expected, it could mark a phenomenal feat for NASA and humanity in case a asteroid with potential to cause a collision comes hurling towards Earth. In fact, even an small object measuring a few hundred metres would unleash continent wide natural disasters on Earth owing to the velocity at which space rocks travel. An asteroid with a diameter larger than a kilometre would produce even more devastating results that would be felt across the globe.
NASA doesn't want to change the pathway of Dimorphos considerably, only hoping to change the orbit by a tiny amount. Kelly Fast from NASA's Planetary Defense Co-ordination Office was quoted as saying that small changes are enough in case an asteroid is discovered ahead of time.
Dimorphos is the natural satellite of Didymos, another asteroid. Most asteroids are remnants of processes that built our solar system - led astray by ancient collisions and interactions in space. While Earth is in a relatively safer zone, asteroids could escape the region where they're mostly found - between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids remain dangerous to Earth
Humans have discovered about 1 million asteroids so far, according to NASA numbers. With the $325 million DART mission, the spacecraft will target the 160 metre wide Dimorphos. If an object this size were to hit Earth, entire continents as big as Asia could face natural disasters and innumerable fatalities. DART was launched into space earlier today with help from SpaceX's Falcon9 from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.
DART will smash into the Dimorphos moonlet at speeds of 6.6 kilometres per second, hoping to change its speed by a fraction of a milimetre per second. This could alter its orbit around Didymos. On paper this might sound unremarkable, but such changes could mean the difference between life and death for people on Earth in case of future collisions.
Ten days ago, a satellite called LiciaCube was launched, which will record images of the impact - including the intensity of the crash and the resulting crater. This could help scientists reassess ways to tackle asteroids in the near-future.
If DART fails, scientists will analyse other ways to change the orbit of space rocks - including blasting the asteroids with nuclear bombs akin to a Hollywood flick. What do you think about NASA's DART mission? Share your thoughts with us below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Rincon, B. P. (2021, November 24). Nasa Dart asteroid spacecraft: Mission to smash into Dimorphos space rock launches. BBC News.