Dart impact in 3 minutes.

[dan m]

 

[Hook]

NASA is awesome! Let’s hope the fridge-sized rocket actually moves the pyramid-sized asteroid.

 

[Joe P]

Luckily, our cameras were rolling to capture this historic moment in planetary defence.

Joe

 

[horta]

NO IMPACT I.

 

[Joe P]

Google double asteroid redirection test.

Joe

 

[Nic Robinson]

Ma poor bairns.

 

[Martin J]

When will we know if it has worked (deflecting the asteroid)?

 

[paulfromcamden]

When will we know if it has worked (deflecting the asteroid)?

Shortly after the asteroid smashes into the Earth destroying all known life.

 

[Thorn]

If the deflection works, how great is the possibility of the asteroid's new course causing damage elsewhere, with major knock-on effects?

 

[garyi]

Apparently they calculated what a rock the size of a pyramid would do in millions of miles time.

 

[Big Tabs]

Ten months from launch to impact - that is impressive for something about the size of a fridge.

Target was about 160 metres diameter. Bonkers.

 

[a.palfreyman]

What happens if they hit the wrong end...?

 

[mikeyb]

What happens if they hit the wrong end...?

Sh*t happens

 

[stevec67]

If the deflection works, how great is the possibility of the asteroid's new course causing damage elsewhere, with major knock-on effects?

I would hope that anyone able to do the calculatuions necessary to hit an asteroid where the projectile is in flight for 10 months has done the sums as to what happens afterwards. Of course, they might not have done, but my guess is that they probably have.

 

[a.palfreyman]

Sh*t happens

In yours and everyone's trousers (Including those the wife wears...)

 

[mikeyb]

In yours and everyone's trousers (Including those the wife wears...)

 

[gintonic]

all bit obvious and boring really - should have nuked the rock and seen what happens

maybe someone should try and shove the moon out of orbit

 

[a.palfreyman]

should have nuked the rock and seen what happens

No. That sound's like a Put in strategy...

 

[herb]

At least they are investigating something that is important and possibly useful. The impressive exciting latest telescope infra red false colour images are great wallpaper but are ultimately depressing on the human scale?