JUST IN: NASA has successfully crashed a spacecraft into the moon of an asteroid as part of a test to see how it affects the motion of an asteroid in space
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A NASA spacecraft has intentionally slammed into an asteroid in humanity’s first test of planetary defense. The impact occurred at 7:15 p.m. ET greeted by cheers from the mission team in Laurel, Maryland. The DART mission, or the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, launched 10 months ago.
One spacecraft’s journey to test Earth’s planetary defenses Near-Earth objects are asteroids and comets with orbits that place them within 30 million miles of Earth. Detecting the threat of near-Earth objects, or NEOs, that could cause grave harm is a primary focus of NASA and other space organizations around the world. Collision course Astronomers discovered Didymos more than two decades ago. It means “twin” in Greek. Didymos is roughly 2,560 feet across.
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DART NASA: Spacecraft will slam into an asteroid's moon MondayThe event will be the agency's first full-scale demonstration of deflection technology that can protect the planet.
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DART NASA: Spacecraft will slam into an asteroid's moon MondayThe event will be the agency's first full-scale demonstration of deflection technology that can protect the planet.
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DART NASA: Spacecraft will slam into an asteroid's moon MondayThe event will be the agency's first full-scale demonstration of deflection technology that can protect the planet.
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DART NASA: Spacecraft will slam into an asteroid's moon MondayThe event will be the agency's first full-scale demonstration of deflection technology that can protect the planet.
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Watch NASA crash DART into an asteroid at 6PM ET | EngadgetNASA is about to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid, and you can watch events live beginning at 6PM Eastern..
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