1、DisclaimerThis resource refers to topical events in the news and is provided for informational and educational purposes only.Events in the news may emotionally impact your learners.You should consider whether this content is appropriate for your situation.It is also your responsibility to ensure tha
2、t the information/activity this resource contains is safe and appropriate to use in your situation.You should not rely on the material included within this resource and Twinkl does not accept any responsibility if you do.visit Click Here for Support with using Interactive PDFsDART Mission Successful
3、ly Hits AsteroidNot many NASA scientists would enjoy finding out that,after years of work,their 330-million-dollar spacecraft has been smashed to smithereens.However,the people working on the DART mission couldnt be happier!Thats because creating a space-based smash-up was the plan all along.DART st
4、ands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test.When it launched last November,DART was humanitys first-ever planetary defense mission.The mission was just a test,though.They didnt think the Earth was in danger.NASA wanted to see if they could change the course of an asteroid in case one comes hurtling to
5、wards us in the future.They think that,if an asteroid were heading for Earth,a well-placed bump could help it to sail on past.So,to test this idea,a spacecraft the size of a car was launched into space and placed on a collision course with a passing asteroid.After nearly a year of shooting through o
6、ur Solar System,the spacecraft crashed into its target early this morning.It struck an asteroid called Dimorphos and was completely obliterated by the impact.The mission was a complete success!At 160 metres across,Dimorphos is a small asteroid.Nevertheless,it is still about the size of the Great Pyr
7、amid of Giza or a sports stadium.So,despite a spacecraft slamming into it at around 14,000mph,the asteroid should only change its trajectory a tiny amount.Thats not a problem,though.In the vastness of space,a small change will turn into a big difference when given enough time.Scientists from across
8、the world are now watching Dimorphos closely.Theyre studying how the collision has affected it.Even if only by a tiny amount.Hopefully,any tiny changes they spot can help us learn more about redirecting asteroids.One day,those small changes could make a big difference to all of us.Daily News Science
9、 World News 27th September 2022Glossarycollision course A path that will lead to a sudden and violent crash.obliterated Destroyed completely.trajectory The path taken by a flying object.vastness The enormous size of something.What is an asteroid?An asteroid is a lump of rock that orbits the Sun.They can vary in size from a few metres to several hundred miles wide.Most are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.Photo:Dimophos 11 seconds before impact.Credits:NASA/Johns Hopkins APLvisit
