NASA today awarded SpaceX a $69 million contract to redirect an asteroid off its intended path. The mission, called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), uses a technique known as a kinetic impactor. It involves sending one or more high-speed spacecraft into the path of an approaching near-earth object — in this case, an asteroid.…
NASA today awarded SpaceX a $69 million contract to redirect an asteroid off its intended path.
The mission, called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), uses a technique known as a kinetic impactor. It involves sending one or more high-speed spacecraft into the path of an approaching near-earth object — in this case, an asteroid.
If successful, the rocket would steer the asteroid away from the Earth’s orbital path, avoiding the need for an Armageddon sequel, presumably.
