Dispatching a mission to crash a rocket into a space rock to attempt to shift its direction, NASA tweeted, “Space rock Dimorphos: we’re coming for you!” If the mission is effective, it implies that space organizations could avoid an Earth-undermining space rock that might be found later on. Twofold Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is the world’s first mission to test space rock diverting innovation.
Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you!
Riding a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, our #DARTMission blasted off at 1:21am EST (06:21 UTC), launching the world's first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology. pic.twitter.com/FRj1hMyzgH
— NASA (@NASA) November 24, 2021