NASA’s DART spacecraft’s impact with the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022 had greater consequences than expected. New research shows that the asteroid’s shape and orbit have been permanently altered.
Scientists at the University of Maryland have discovered that Dimorphos, a small moon orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos, has been significantly deformed by the impact. The originally flat shape, which the scientists described in the new study as a hamburger, is now more elongated and looks more like a rugby ball.
This unexpected change causes Dimorphos to no longer orbit steadily around Didymos. “The moon may now be swaying back and forth or even tumbling chaotically through space,” said Derek Richardson, the study’s lead researcher, in a press releaseThe study was published in a specialized journal. Journal of Planetary Science Published.
May affect future assignments.
The consequences of this instability could be felt for years to come. Researchers believe it could take up to a hundred years before Dimorphos finds a stable orbit again. That complicates future space missions to the asteroid pair. However, they also see opportunities. The European Space Agency will launch a follow-up mission called Hera in October. This should reveal more details about the interior structure of both asteroids. Hera is due to reach Dimorphos and Didymos in 2026.
Richardson emphasizes the importance of this research for protecting Earth. “DART has given us insights into the complex physics of gravity that you can’t do in the lab, and all of this research helps us calibrate our efforts to defend Earth in the event of a real threat,” she said. “There’s a small chance that an asteroid or comet could come close to the planet and put it at risk. Now we have an additional line of defense against these types of external threats.”
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