A spacecraft has launched on a mission to test technology that could one day tip a dangerous asteroid off course.

 

Nasa’s Dart mission wants to see how difficult it would be to stop a huge space rock from colliding with Earth.

The spacecraft will crash into an object called Dimorphos to see how much its speed and path can be altered.

If a chunk of cosmic debris measuring a few hundred metres across were to collide with our planet, it could unleash continent-wide devastation.

Devastation
Devastation
Devastation
Devastation

Smack a space rock

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dart spacecraft blasted off on Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

It is the first attempt to deflect an asteroid for the purpose of learning how to protect Earth, though this particular asteroid presents no threat.

“Dart will only be changing the period of the orbit of Dimorphos by a tiny amount. And really that’s all that’s needed in the event that an asteroid is discovered well ahead of time,” said Kelly Fast, from Nasa’s planetary defence co-ordination office.

Commenting on the launch, she said: “We’re not out of the woods yet, we’ve got to get out to Dimorphos, but this is a huge step along the way.”

Devastation
Devastation
Devastation
Devastation

Smack a space rock