NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission has successfully altered the orbit of the binary asteroid system containing Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. This groundbreaking achievement is regarded as the first instance of a human-engineered object changing the trajectory of a celestial body in orbit around the Sun, according to a recent study from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Following the spacecraft's impact in 2022, researchers reported that Dimorphos' orbital duration around Didymos was reduced by approximately 33 minutes. Additionally, the moonlet's path has shifted about 120 feet closer to Didymos. The study indicates that the gravitational dynamics of the entire system, which has a 770-day orbital cycle around the Sun, have also been modified. Lead author Rahil Makadia highlighted that the change is measured at about 11.7 microns per second, equating to roughly 1.7 inches per hour.
While the adjustments may appear minimal, Makadia emphasized their potential significance, stating that even slight changes in motion could eventually prevent dangerous objects from colliding with Earth. The findings mark a significant step in exploring methods for planetary defense against possible asteroid threats.