Double Asteroid Redirection Test
Yesterday, after 10 months of flying in space, DART collided with the asteroid, Dimorphos.
It was a test of a planetary defense strategy, and while the impact was a success, the team needs to observe the asteroid to confirm its orbit around Didymos has been altered as a result. They expect it to be shortened by 1%, or 10 minutes.
"Beyond the truly exciting success of the technology demonstration, capabilities based on DART could one day be used to change the course of an asteroid to protect our planet and preserve life on Earth as we know it," says Director of the Applied Physics Laboratory, Ralph Semmel.
(Also, be sure to search "nasa dart" on Google for a little fun).
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