A test that could lead to preventing extinction from a deadly asteroid has begun.
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was launched by NASA with the help of a Falcon 9 rocket. CNN reported that the craft successfully launched from the Space Force Base in California and landed back on Earth.
DART is on a 6.8 million mile journey to smash itself into a giant asteroid to see if it can stop the space rock from hitting us. It could be the first ever feasible planetary defense tool we could use to prevent the apocalypse.
Dimorphos!
DART has a while before it completes its journey.
The craft will reach Dimorphos, a moonlet that is roughly the size of a football field, in September 2022.
Both Dimorphos and Didymos are large enough to cause apocalyptic danger to Earth, neither is at risk of actually colliding with it. It is easier to observe Dimorphos because it is close to our planet. Think of this as a very expensive and high-stakes target practice.
Picture perfect.
DART will be crashing another satellite, called LICIACube, shortly before they get the best data and insights. The crash will be documented by a satellite and sent to NASA to see if the plan worked.
We can always go back to the drawing board if we don't get it, which we assume will include a ragtag team of oil drillers sent to blow up the asteroid before it can kill Liv Tyler.
NASA is going to crash into an asteroid to try to change it's position in space.
Bruce Willis apparently refused to watch a NASA rocket launch.
Are you interested in supporting clean energy adoption? UnderstandSolar.com can show you how much money you could save by using solar power. Futurism.com may receive a small commission if you sign up through this link.
