NASA Will Hit A Spacecraft If There Are Asteroids That Threaten Earth

Illustration of Asteroids threatening Earth (Times of Israel)

JAKARTA - NASA has a goal of destroying asteroids that are considered dangerous for Earth. The US space agency is in the demonstration stage to do this.

This program is part of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) trial targeting Dimorhpos, one of the moons that surround the Didymos Asteroid system with a size of about 160 meters.

In 2021, NASA will launch a spacecraft destroying the asteroid. They claim the aircraft will reach the asteroid in 2022.

"Until now, we didn't have much choice to do if we found something (asteroid) that enters (threatens the Earth)", said astronomer Andy Rivkin of John Hopkins as quoted by News Australia on Friday 23 April.

This DART mission is actually not intended to blow itself up, its main mission is only to deflect Asteroids from their main orbital path so they don't hit Earth.

"DART is the first test of how we might be able to deflect something without having to use nuclear packs or sit in the basement waiting and crossing our fingers", said Rivkin.

Until now the mission is in the process of researching whether this effort makes sense or not. In the DART mission, NASA is working with the European Space Agency (ESA) and also Italy.

“DART is the first step in testing the dangerous Asteroid deflection method. Potential asteroids are a global problem and we are pleased to work with colleagues from Italy and Europe to collect the most accurate data", said Andre Riley, NASA's DART Program Executive.

DART is a project developed by NASA's planetary defense department. The division is part of a global planetary defense effort. The DART mission is under the supervision of the Italian Space Agency, Cubesat. If the NASA mission is successful, then ESA will examine NASA's work by sending the HERA spacecraft two years later.