Spacecraft's impact changed asteroid's orbit around the sun in a save-the-Earth test, study finds
apnews.com
A new study has found that an asteroid NASA used for target practice a few years ago was nudged into a slightly different route around the sun.
  • MetalSlugX@piefed.socialEnglish
    11·
    10 days ago

    Literally years ago.

    This just confirm-confirm-confirms what was already known - hitting a mass with another mass changes the trajectory.

    • Innerworld@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      6·
      10 days ago

      Now, new research has revealed it may have done a lot more. Scientists have confirmed that DART also nudged the asteroid pair’s trajectory around the sun — a first-ever measurement. The shift was tiny, but it doubled the deflection effect. It’s the most compelling evidence yet that humanity could potentially redirect a killer asteroid before it reaches Earth.