In a groundbreaking mission that could potentially change the course of asteroid research, NASA’s DART spacecraft intentionally crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos in September 2022. The collision caused a global deformation and resurfacing of Dimorphos, releasing dust and rock in the process.
Simulations of the impact suggest that Dimorphos’ shape may be changing and “healing” after the collision. This unexpected outcome has led researchers to believe that the European Space Agency’s Hera mission, set to explore the aftermath of the impact, may find a reshaped asteroid instead of a crater.
Scientists have long believed that Dimorphos is a “weak” pile of “rubble” formed from loose rocks shed by its twin asteroid Didymos. The impact from the DART spacecraft left a huge mark on Dimorphos, causing global deformation and resurfacing that have provided valuable information for future asteroid exploration and deflection efforts.
This mission has shed new light on the potential consequences of deflecting asteroids in the future. By understanding how a small spacecraft can alter the course of an asteroid and reshape its surface, researchers hope to refine their strategies for planetary defense.
As we await the findings of the Hera mission, which is scheduled to arrive at Dimorphos in the coming years, the world watches with bated breath to see what secrets this reshaped asteroid may reveal about the mysteries of our solar system. Stay tuned to Insider Wales Sport for the latest updates on this monumental mission.
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