NASA has been put on alert because a massive asteroid is expected to pass close to Earth on October 2. Here’s what the space agency said.
What if one small planet heading to Earth? What happens if anyone gets lost? small planet inside solar system touch the ground? Can we save ourselves from total destruction? If such questions pop into your mind, your questions may soon be answered, thanks to NASA’s DART Mission taking place on September 26. Although the collision was a success, it hasn’t. could confirm whether the asteroid was indeed deflected. For this, NASA and other space organizations will study data around the impact site with the help of the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft. That moment, NASA warned that a giant asteroid was headed for Earth.
Asteroid 2018 ER1
NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for monitoring the skies for any potential impacts. It red flags Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) as Potentially Dangerous Objects if they come 7.5 to 8 million kilometers from Earth. Asteroid 2018 ER1 has also been flagged by the organization.
Asterid 2018 ER1 is set to get close to The earth on October 2 at a distance of 5.6 million km. The asteroid is on its way towards Earth, at a speed of nearly 14,400 kilometers per hour. The asteroid will make another trip to Earth shortly after its closest approach on October 8, 2023. Asteroid 2018 ER1 ranges in size from 65 feet to 148 feet.
ESA’s involvement in the DART . Mission
Europe Space The Agency’s Hera spacecraft will observe the impact of the DART spacecraft and the asteroid Dimorphos. ESA launched its Hera spacecraft that will travel to the same asteroid to observe the collision.
The Hera spacecraft will fly to the asteroid to survey the aftermath of the impact and gather information such as the size of the impact crater, the asteroid’s mass, and its composition and internal structure using using its CubeSAT satellite to conduct radar probes of the asteroid. after collision.
