2022's DART mission collided with asteroid moon Dimorphos, altering its shape and orbit.

NASA's DART mission successfully collided with asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022, permanently changing its shape and orbit, according to a new study. The spacecraft's impact created a large crater and significantly reshaped the moon, causing it to deviate from its original evolutionary trajectory. Researchers now believe that Dimorphos might start chaotically tumbling as it attempts to re-establish gravitational equilibrium with its parent asteroid, Didymos. The study also discusses the implications for future asteroid research, including the European Space Agency's follow-up mission to the Didymos system, which aims to assess the internal properties of both asteroids and provide a more detailed analysis of the DART mission.

August 23, 2024
7 Articles