NASA’s DART Mission May Create First Human-Made Meteor Shower

September 9, 2024

NASA’s DART mission made history by successfully crashing a spacecraft into the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos. This marked a major step forward in protecting Earth from possible asteroid impacts by testing ways to change the direction of threatening space objects.

What is Dimorphids: The First Human-Made Meteor Shower?

As a result of the DART mission’s impact, debris from Dimorphos has been scattered into space. Scientists believe that more than 2 million pounds of this material could eventually reach Earth and Mars. If this happens, it could create a meteor shower, known as the “Dimorphids,” in the next 10 to 30 years, leading to periodic meteor displays.

NASA’s DART Mission Explained

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was launched in 2021 as NASA’s first attempt to move an asteroid from its path. The idea behind the mission was to see if a spacecraft could deflect an asteroid by crashing into it—this technique is called “kinetic impact.” DART’s goal was to show that this method could be used to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats in the future.

The DART mission was a success. The spacecraft hit Dimorphos and managed to shorten its orbit around the larger asteroid Didymos by 33 minutes. This was a major victory, as it proved that using a spacecraft to change an asteroid’s path is possible. It is the first time humans have intentionally changed the movement of a celestial body.

The Impact on Dimorphos

The impact of DART not only changed Dimorphos’ orbit but also altered its shape. It now resembles a ‘triaxial ellipsoid,’ meaning its form became more stretched and irregular. This suggests that the asteroid underwent significant geological changes as a result of the collision.

Dimorphos was selected for the mission because it is relatively close to Earth and has a size similar to other asteroids that might pose a threat in the future. It is part of a two-asteroid system with Didymos. Importantly, neither Dimorphos nor Didymos is on a collision course with Earth, making it a safe target for testing.

Significance of Asteroid Deflection

The success of the DART mission shows that asteroid deflection is a real possibility. By proving that kinetic impact can change an asteroid’s course, the mission has provided humanity with a tool to defend Earth against potential asteroid collisions, improving planetary safety.

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