NASA crashes spacecraft into an asteroid to test planetary defense

NASA crashes spacecraft into an asteroid to test planetary defense

NASA's DART spacecraft successfully collides with an asteroid.

This project was an experiment by planetary defense experts.

The best way to deal with incoming space rock should be subtle with a small spacecraft, NASA said.

That's just what NASA did with a spacecraft headed straight into an asteroid.

The egg-shaped asteroid, called Dimorphos was hit right on target.

The impact of NASA's DART was a 7-year and more than $300 million effort that was launched into space.

This vehicle was launched into space in November 2021 to perform humanity's first-ever test of planetary defense technology.

Dimorphos is around 7 million miles away and poses no threat to Earth. It's about 525 feet across and orbits another, larger asteroid.

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