NASA’s

Recently published papers in Nature show that intercepting an asteroid about the size of Dimorphos can be achieved without advanced reconnaissance. What is necessary, however, is sufficient warning time. 🎯
The authors, led by Terik Daly, Carolyn Ernst and Olivier Barnouin of Johns Hopkins APL, note DART’s successful autonomous targeting of a small asteroid, with limited prior knowledge, is a critical first step on the path to developing kinetic impactor technology as a viable operational capability for planetary defense. jhuapl.link/mwi