In September 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission made history by intentionally crashing a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos. This groundbreaking experiment aimed to test the viability of using kinetic impact to alter an asteroid's trajectory, a potential strategy for protecting Earth from future collisions. The DART spacecraft, traveling at 14,000 miles per hour, successfully impacted Dimorphos, a 525-foot asteroid that poses no immediate threat to our planet. The mission's success has opened new avenues for planetary defense, demonstrating that we can actively prevent hazardous asteroids from colliding with Earth.
Following DART's impact, the European Space Agency launched the Hera mission to study the aftermath. Hera, which embarked on its journey in October 2024, is set to arrive at the Didymos system in 2026. Equipped with advanced scientific instruments, Hera aims to analyze the mass, shape, composition, and orbit of Dimorphos, providing valuable data to refine asteroid deflection strategies. This collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency underscores the global commitment to safeguarding our planet from potential asteroid threats. The findings from these missions are crucial for developing effective planetary defense mechanisms, ensuring that humanity is prepared for any future asteroid encounters.