Video: Moment Dart spacecraft crashed into asteroid intentionally

The target of DART's impact was Dimorphos, a small moonlet orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos.

In Short

• The dramatic collision occurred on September 26, 2022
• The moment it crashed was captured on video
• The target of DART's impact was Dimorphos, a small moonlet

Nasa's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission made history two years ago when it successfully crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid, demonstrating humanity's first attempt at planetary defense through kinetic impact.

The dramatic collision, which occurred on September 26, 2022, was captured on video, providing scientists and the public with an unprecedented view of this groundbreaking experiment.

WATCH DART SPACECRAFT BANG INTO AN ASTEROID

The target of DART's impact was Dimorphos, a small moonlet orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos. As the spacecraft approached its target at a speed of about 14,000 mph, it transmitted a series of increasingly detailed images back to Earth.

These final moments were streamed live by Nasa, allowing viewers worldwide to witness the collision in real-time.

The video footage shows DART's camera view as it hurtles towards Dimorphos, with the asteroid growing larger in the frame until it fills the entire screen. The last image, captured just seconds before impact, reveals a rocky, irregularly shaped surface before the feed abruptly cuts out upon collision.

Following the impact, a global network of telescopes observed the Didymos-Dimorphos system to measure the effect of DART's collision. The results were impressive: the impact successfully altered Dimorphos' orbit around Didymos by 32 minutes, exceeding Nasa's minimum benchmark for success by a factor of 25.

This mission marked a significant milestone in planetary defense strategies. By proving that we can intentionally change an asteroid's path, DART has provided valuable data for potential future asteroid deflection missions, should Earth ever face a genuine impact threat.

The success of DART has not only advanced our technological capabilities but also sparked public interest in asteroid research and planetary defense.