NASA’s Dart probe has successfully collided with an asteroid, destroying itself in the process.
The collision was intended to test whether space rocks, which could threaten Earth, could be safely diverted.
The Dart probe’s cameras captured the impact on the 160-meter-wide object, named Dimorphos.
“As far as we can tell, our first planetary defense test was a success,” said Elena Adams, part of the mission.
According to the first data, the place where the probe collided was only 17 meters from the center of the asteroid Dimorphos.
From the images taken by the probe, the scientists said that the asteroid was shaped like a diamond and some parts of its surface had stones, but some areas were smooth.
