NASA tests planetary defense against asteroids – One America News Network

September 23, 2022 Sophia Flores US 0

This illustration made available by Johns Hopkins APL and NASA depicts NASA's DART probe, foreground right, and Italian Space Agency's (ASI) LICIACube, bottom right, at the Didymos system before impact with the asteroid Dimorphos, left. DART is expected to zero in on the asteroid Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph. The impact should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock. (Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP) — This illustration made available by Johns Hopkins APL and NASA depicts NASA’s DART probe, foreground right, and Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) LICIACube, bottom right, at the Didymos system before impact with the asteroid Dimorphos, left. DART is expected to zero in on the asteroid Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph. The impact should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock. (Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP)

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UPDATED 10:13 AM PT –Friday, September 23, 2022

NASA prepares to test a new planetary defense system. The system is designed to fend off asteroids that might hit earth.

On Thursday, NASA representatives held a press conference to explain DART. DART stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test. The organization also answered questions about the project. The DART test will collide a small satellite with an asteroid with the hopes of redirecting its orbit around a larger asteroid. Tom Statler, a NASA scientist working on the DART program, spoke about the new planetary defense system and the tests it will undergo.

“The first test is the test of our ability to build an autonomously guided spacecraft that will actually achieve the kinetic impact on the asteroid,” he said. “The second test is the test of how the actual asteroid responds to the kinetic impact, because at the end of the day, the real question is how effectively did we move the asteroid? And can this technique of kinetic impact be used in the future if we ever needed to? ”

The satellite was originally launched in November of last year. It is expected to collide with its target on Monday evening.

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