DART Mission Marks Milestone in Planetary Defense Against Asteroids
NASA’s DART mission has revolutionized planetary defense by successfully demonstrating asteroid deflection capabilities. Launched in 2021, DART’s collision with Dimorphos on September 26, 2022, marks a significant step in safeguarding Earth from potential asteroid impacts. Experts emphasize the need for improved detection technologies and global collaboration to enhance our planetary defense systems.
NASA Selects 12 Scientists for ESA’s Hera Mission to Study Binary Asteroid System
NASA has selected 12 participating scientists to join ESA’s Hera mission, which aims to study the binary asteroid system Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2024, seeks to validate the kinetic impact method for deflecting asteroids on potential collision courses with Earth. The collaboration between NASA and ESA will gather crucial data on the bodies’ composition and assess changes caused by the DART spacecraft’s impact.