NASA's DART Mission Will Move Mountains In Space

Next Week NASA plans to launch its Double Asteroid Redirect Test Mission on a Falcon 9 rocket out of Vandenberg Space Force Base. The DART mission is a technology demonstrator which will test the operation of various new technologies in spaceflight, and ultimately crash the spacecraft into a small asteroid to demonstrate the ability to change the orbit of an object using a kinetic impactor.

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[DeadEyeJedi]

The way you described the ESA sneaking up and smacking that poor asteroid while it was distracted was hilarious for some reason....

[MrKaStep]

Whenever Scott says "get some science out of it", I immediately imagine an observation in KSP giving you +41.3 science points

[Andysalive]

Isn't Nasa always so lucky that their mission names make such great acronyms!

[MoonWeasel]

Engineer 1: “How do we store solar panels more efficiently?”
Engineer 2: *Looks at slap bracelet.*
“I have an idea.”

[Jjmmll]

First time Scott is hoping for a crash haha crash safe~

[WolfJustWolf]

Let's hope for an RSD
Rapid Scheduled Disassembly

[Ithirahad]

WHAT it's not called "Didymoon" any more... my disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined. :(
I guess we couldn't bear to fire DART at a rock with such an adorable name.

[thesolitaryowl]

Didimoon: "Oh look! Some little guys have come all this way to take pictures of me!"
Some time later:
*DART goes

[Ralph]

'Never tell me the odds.'
What a freaking cool mission! Thanks as ever Scott for a clear and well presented video.

[FranciscoLopez]

This mission alone should, I hope, put an end to the discussion of 'why bother spending money on space when problems exists down on earth'. This could one day save us from impact.

[moonasha]

I was so relieved when you said that there will be a camera observing this event. Can't wait to see these pictures

[weschilton]

I'm proud to say that my good friend Julie S is the NASA payload manager for this mission!

[michaellacock]

This is monumental. Even though this test only will change the course a very slight bit, this is the foundation for what will hopefully be technology that will one day save human kind.

[davidboyle]

Your enthusiasm is infectious. Hope this mission provides NASA the information it's looking for. Will have my fingers crossed that the cubesat gets pictures of the impact. Stay safe.

[h-h]

Finally Evolution figured out how to stop a asteroid

[AirwavesEnglish]

Haha, Scott, you actually DO look and sound very excited!
Thanks for this update; i had no idea this was on the cards.
I think it's super-interesting too and to be able to have a "front-row-seat will be extraordinary.
Fly Safe (and straight! :)

[AwakenedEssence]

I loved the end bit. You were so excited. Yes, so I must be about 4 years older than Rock on... The C-3PO probability of surviving an asteroid belt was lovely to hear.

[enterprisesoftwarearchitect]

“Hello, Scott Manley here.” So macho - you gotta’ dig the intro!

[johnladuke]

Wait, don't we actually hope that the odds are significantly worse? 3P0 was quoting their chances of *safely* navigating the asteroid field, and we don't want to get through safely at all.

[AndrewinAus]

I see it now, the numbers will suggest they are on track to hit the asteroid at the last moment it will miss. "The work must continue"