NASA’s DART Spacecraft Changed An Asteroid’s Orbit Around The Sun
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NASA scientists have confirmed that a spacecraft can help change the path of an asteroid in space. This finding suggests that a dangerous asteroid headed toward Earth could be pushed off course if needed.
The discovery comes from NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. Its purpose was to try to change the path of an asteroid.
In September 2022, the spacecraft intentionally crashed into a small asteroid called Dimorphos. It orbits a larger asteroid named Didymos. Together, they form a binary system. This means the two objects are held together by gravity. This system was chosen because its motion is easy to track.
Early observations showed that the impact shortened Dimorphos’ orbit around Didymos by about 32 minutes. Part of this change came from the crash itself. The rest was caused by a cloud of rock and dust ejected from the asteroid.
More recent analysis revealed an additional effect. A study published in Science Advances in March 2026 found that the impact also slightly changed the system’s path around the Sun. The shift is tiny — about 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) per hour. Even so, small changes in space can grow over time. This is the first time scientists have measured a real change in an object’s path around the Sun.
"These results show that we can now confidently say we have the ability to push asteroids," says the study's lead author, Rahil Makadia.
Resources: NASA.gov, ScientificAmerican.com
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37 Comments
sn645141 dayThat is amazing to see.- rekytiricova15 daysPhew, it did not crash into Earth.
bianca9815 daysThis is amazing.- hapejapu-17779074770316 daysSo cool
fimohulenevi17 daysyou guys know there's an around 3% chance an asteroid hits earth and kills us right? the only reason its so low is because it to far out to tall and its still approaching and expected to hit in 2029. this could save us from mass extinction and even if some die the lack of life and even to much heat will drive us underground.
dinoking123620 daysIt's so cool😎
galaxyguy22 daysCool but short
dyfejifedose22 dayswow thats crazy
an_astronaut22 daysSuper Cooool!!
dodger-dog23 daysWow... that's so cool I wish I could do that
