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NASA's DART Mission Altered Orbits of Asteroids Didymos and Dimorphos
The 2022 spacecraft collision changed the path of the binary asteroid system around the sun.
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
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New research has found that NASA's DART mission in 2022, which intentionally crashed a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos, not only altered the orbit of Dimorphos around its larger companion Didymos, but also changed the orbit of the entire binary asteroid system around the sun. This marks the first time a human-made object has measurably changed the path of a celestial body around the sun.
Why it matters
Understanding how the DART mission impacted the orbits of these asteroids is crucial for developing future planetary defense capabilities. Even small changes to an asteroid's motion could be the difference between it hitting Earth or missing it entirely. The findings from DART will help space agencies better prepare for potential asteroid threats.
The details
NASA's DART mission in 2022 proved it was possible to nudge an incoming asteroid out of harm's way by slamming a spacecraft into it. The mission targeted Dimorphos, a 530-foot moonlet asteroid that orbits the larger 2,560-foot Didymos. While Didymos was not the direct target, new observations reveal the DART impact altered the 770-day orbit of the entire binary asteroid system around the sun by a fraction of a second.
- In September 2022, NASA's DART spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos at 14,000 mph.
- Between October 2022 and March 2025, researchers used radar and other ground-based observations to measure changes to the asteroids' speed, shape and position.
- In October 2024, the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft is set to launch on a two-year journey to study the Didymos binary system.
The players
Didymos
A near-Earth binary asteroid system, with the larger Didymos asteroid measuring 2,560 feet in diameter.
Dimorphos
The smaller, 530-foot moonlet asteroid that orbits Didymos.
NASA's DART Mission
A spacecraft that intentionally crashed into Dimorphos in September 2022 to test asteroid deflection technology.
Hera
A spacecraft from the European Space Agency that is set to launch in October 2024 to study the Didymos binary asteroid system.
Thomas Statler
The lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters.
What they’re saying
“This is a tiny change to the orbit, but given enough time, even a tiny change can grow to a significant deflection.”
— Thomas Statler, Lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters (NASA)
What’s next
The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft is expected to enter the Didymos binary system's orbit in October 2026 to further analyze the results of NASA's DART mission and help space agencies prepare for potential asteroid threats to Earth.
The takeaway
NASA's DART mission not only successfully altered the orbit of the target asteroid Dimorphos, but also unexpectedly changed the orbit of the larger Didymos asteroid around the sun. This demonstrates the potential of using kinetic impactors to deflect hazardous asteroids, and the findings will inform future planetary defense strategies.
