The title is "Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission".
That question is nowhere on the page, likely because of course crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid changes its course. A flyby of an asteroid also changes it course. (For that matter, a gravity assist by Jupiter also changes Jupiter's course.)
Instead, the stated reason is: "This asteroid system is a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future."
I'm curious to know why they think it wouldn't work.
Comments
The title is "Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission".
That question is nowhere on the page, likely because of course crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid changes its course. A flyby of an asteroid also changes it course. (For that matter, a gravity assist by Jupiter also changes Jupiter's course.)
Instead, the stated reason is: "This asteroid system is a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future."
I'm curious to know why they think it wouldn't work.