NASA’s Dart probe was meant to test how much an asteroid could be deflected, but its impact on Dimorphos resulted in massive chunks of rock being thrown into unexpected directions. The debris, weighing between 0.2 and 3.6 meters, flew away at speeds of up to 190 km/h, defying randomness. Researchers believe the probe struck two large chunks of debris during impact, causing the asteroid to tumble uncontrollably.
The finding is significant for future asteroid defense plans. The Dart mission aimed to test a method to deflect asteroids on a collision course with Earth. However, small details like this can greatly impact the outcome. Researchers are now awaiting data from an upcoming ESA probe to determine the effects of the impact on Dimorphos’s orbit and the debris’s behavior.
Source: https://www.heise.de/en/news/NASA-s-Dart-probe-has-unexpectedly-knocked-massive-chunks-out-of-asteroids-10480936.html