NASA's DART Mission Permanently Altered an Asteroid's Orbit Around the Sun
New study confirms humanity has signed its name into the orbital dynamics of the solar system
The original DART mission was designed to test whether a kinetic impactor could change an asteroid's trajectory as a planetary defence technique. Scientists quickly confirmed it had shortened Dimorphos' orbit around Didymos. But the new research goes further, showing the impact was significant enough to shift the entire Didymos system's heliocentric orbit — its path around the Sun.
Dimorphos is roughly the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza and orbits the larger Didymos asteroid. The confirmation that humanity can measurably alter solar system orbital mechanics represents a milestone in planetary defence capabilities.
Analysis
Why This Matters
This is the first time humanity has demonstrably changed the orbit of a celestial body around the Sun. It validates kinetic impactor technology as a viable planetary defence strategy.
Background
DART launched in November 2021 and impacted Dimorphos on 26 September 2022. The mission cost approximately $330 million.
What to Watch
The ESA's Hera mission, which will arrive at Dimorphos in late 2026 to study the impact crater and measure the asteroid's changed properties in detail.