The first NASA DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) demonstration will happen as the international space union confirmed the test's official schedule.
(Photo : NASA/Johns Hopkins, APL/Steve Gribben)
llustration of NASA’s DART spacecraft and the Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) LICIACube prior to impact at the Didymos binary system.
If all goes well, the upcoming DART mission will be the first planetary defense test that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will conduct.
For the past few years, NASA and other government-backed space agencies have been making efforts to develop methods that can protect Earth from space threats.
These include asteroids and other heavenly bodies that can crash toward the planet. Now, NASA will soon demonstrate the efficiency of DART by colliding the spacecraft with an asteroid.
First NASA DART Demo to Happen!
According to NASA Gov's official report, the impact day of DART is set to happen on Sept. 26. The space union confirmed that they would target the so-called Dimorphos asteroid.
(Photo : Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Astronomical Society vice president of special events Keith Caceres uses computer software connected to his telescope to locate asteroid 2014 JO25 outside the Planetarium at the College of Southern Nevada on April 19, 2017 in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Also Read: NASA Black Hole Remix: Hear What the Perseus Galaxy Cluster Sounds Like in This New Drop
This means that NASA will intentionally collide its DART spacecraft towards the space rock.
"NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the world's first mission to test technology for defending Earth against potential asteroid or comet hazards, will impact its target asteroid," said NASA.
But, the aerospace agency clarified that the Dimorphos asteroid is not a threat to Earth.
It will only conduct the DART mission to check if this planetary defense is efficient against asteroids and other potential space threats.
DART Mission's Other Details
Before the DART demo happens, NASA will host a hybrid media day (Sept. 12), focusing on the planetary defense tech that allows the spacecraft to target the asteroid efficiently.
After that, the international space agency will have a media briefing at the NASA headquarters, specifically scheduled for Sept. 22.
During this day, DART's final activities before impact will be previewed.
On the other hand, NASA's official DART website also invites space fans to become part of the so-called Planetary Defender.
If you are interested, all you need to do is click this link. Once you are there, you must enter your first and last name. Then, just complete the short quiz. Doing this will allow you to earn a badge and certificate from NASA.
Previously, a new NASA study explained why planetary photobombers could drastically affect essential space studies.
On the other hand, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will soon capture dazzling exoplanet vaporized gem clouds.
For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming DART demo, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: NASA's 'Longest Operating Mission In Space:' Voyager Achieves 45 Years In Exploring The Universe!
This article is owned by TechTimes
Written by: Griffin Davis
