Mastodawn

NASA's asteroid deflection test for planetary defence even more successful than we thought
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission not only altered an asteroid’s orbit but, for the first time, a new study shows we also successfully changed the asteroids' path around the sun.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/nasa-dart-mission-asteroid-space-9.7127403?cmp=rss

CBC Calgary Mar 15

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Spaceflight 🚀Dec 15

A solution to mitigate low #deflection efficiency is to apply multiple low-energy impactors rather than a single high-energy impactor 💥. A lower kinetic energy impactor results in a smaller crater 🕳️ that is less affected by global curvature, increasing momentum transfer efficiency https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56010-w

#DART #AsteroidDeflection #AsteroidThreat

Elliptical ejecta of asteroid Dimorphos is due to its surface curvature - Nature Communications

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission impact on asteroid Dimophos resulted in an elliptical ejecta plume. Here, the authors show that this elliptical ejecta is due to the curvature of the asteroid and makes kinetic momentum transfer less efficient.

Nature

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Spaceflight 🚀Dec 13

Any useful deflection of a larger #asteroid ☄️ would require a far greater shove or need to occur decades ahead of an impending collision 💥 to have a cumulative effect. You’d need 1,000 #DARTs to get the same deflection https://www.astronomy.com/science/how-we-track-near-earth-asteroids/

Discovery 🔭
after closest approach: 69 (46.0%)
< 24 hours : 32 (21.3%)
up to 7 days : 47 (31.3%)
> one week : 2 (1.3%)
> 7 weeks : 0 (0.0%)
> one year : 0 (0.0%)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_asteroid_close_approaches_to_Earth_in_2025

#Dimorphos #Didymos #AsteroidThreat #AsteroidDeflection #NASA #DART

How we track near-Earth asteroids

These are the planetary defenders who are on the hunt for the next big asteroid that could impact Earth — and how we might stop it.

Astronomy Magazine

chronosotheym at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Totally agree—months matter, and we need more than hope. Ion beam tech could buy time and work across rubble-pile asteroids, but we must invest in robust timelines, testing, and multiple deflection options. No quick fix, but a viable, gradual hedge if funded properly.

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dominica at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Yeah, time's the key here.

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impala at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Ion beams could work if there's enough time, but still sounds like a slow burn. Not sure how much it'll help against those faster, more unpredictable ones. Kinetic or nukes still seem faster.

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machopaphrodite at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Yeah, months matter, but relying on this tech isn't exactly a quick fix. We need more than hope here.

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letovenusaur at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Slow fix, but worth exploring.

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chance at KillBait Oct 24

Ion Beam Technology: A Potential Method for Deflecting Hazardous Asteroids

Intriguing idea. Ion beams may buy valuable deflection time, even if not a fast fix. If months matter for rubble-pile threats, this approach could complement kinetic or nuclear options, provided engines are powerful and control is precise enough for a reliable trajectory shift.

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