Last mentioned: Mar 9, 2026
Heliocentric Confirmation
Scientists confirm the impact changed the entire system's orbit around the sun.
Solar Orbit Shift Confirmed
Long-term tracking confirms the entire system's heliocentric path has been altered.
Hera Mission Launch
ESA launches the Hera spacecraft to conduct a post-impact survey.
Orbit Change Confirmed
NASA confirms the moonlet's orbital period was shortened by 32-33 minutes.
Kinetic Impact
DART successfully strikes Dimorphos, the moonlet of the Didymos system.
Kinetic Impact
DART successfully strikes Dimorphos, marking the first planetary defense test.
DART Launch
NASA launches the DART spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
DART Launch
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches the DART mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) has achieved a milestone beyond its original scope, confirming that the 2022 impact successfully shifted the solar orbit of the entire Didymos-Dimorphos binary system. This breakthrough validates kinetic impact technology as a definitive tool for long-term planetary sustainability and defense.
New data confirms NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) successfully altered the orbital path of the entire Didymos-Dimorphos binary system around the sun. This milestone marks the first time human activity has intentionally modified the trajectory of celestial bodies on a heliocentric scale.