NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission will reach an asteroid named Didymos in 2022 as a demonstratiDART is designed for a kinetic impact, which means it will crash into Dimorphos in an effort to nudge it. If it works, this method could potentially be used to move an Earth-threatening asteroid onto a safer path. on of an asteroid deflection system designed to redirect a space rock away from an Earth impact. Didymos' moon is the target of the exercise and was recently given the new name of "Dimorphos" this week.
Hazardous asteroids are a global issue and NASA isn't doing this alone. DART's exploits will be witnessed by a small CubeSat companion from the Italian Space Agency. Two years later, ESA will launch its own Hera spacecraft to visit Didymos and examine the results of the DART mission. DART is scheduled to launch in 2021. Didymos and Dimorphos aren't an actual threat to Earth, but they could be become invaluable test subjects as we work out new ways to protect our planet.In February, NASA announced it was targeting a secondary launch window for sending DART on its way. That window will last from Nov. 24 to Feb. 15, 2022. SpaceX will launch the mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. If DART gets off the ground within that time frame, it should be on track to smack the moonlet in late 2022.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/see-how-nasa-is-going-to-bludgeon-an-asteroid/
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