Asteroid Hunting...

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

I have always loved science, especially when it comes to things that exist beyond this Earth.  Astronomy has always been a favorite of mine.

I was excited when the Space Force was created.  After Obama's desire to kill the space program it ensured the push to reach for the stars would continue.

An extinction event collision with Earth by some heavenly object has been a concern of humanity as long as I can remember.  Science Fiction writers have written about it, and movies have played out the scenario.  History provides that such an event likely happened.  Some scientists claim that is how the dinosaurs were wiped out.

Protecting our little blue marble from those kinds of collisions is actually something they are working on at NASA.  It's Reagan's Star Wars, I suppose, but a defense system against extraterrestrial threats.

NASAs program, DART, or the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, is a strategy to deflect asteroids by changing an asteroid's motion in space.

But, to make sure it works the plan needs to be tested.  Plans for such a test is in the works.  An asteroid called Didymos B was classified as "both a potentially hazardous asteroid and a near-Earth object" when it was first discovered.  The asteroid's proximity to Earth makes it the perfect test asteroid to see if NASA's plan to nudge an asteroid off its path will work.

The mission to impact and move Didymos B will happen on Sept. 26, 2022, at 7:14 pm EST.

The DART mission will be viewable live by the public. Coverage will start at 6 pm EST on Sept. 26 and it will be streamed on NASA's website, as well as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary