What is the DART Mission? | Neil deGrasse Tyson and NASA Planetary Defense Officer Explain...

Why are we crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice learn about the NASA DART mission and testing Earth’s defense against asteroids with NASA’s first Planetary Defense Officer, Lindley Johnson.
How do we stop what happened to the dinosaurs from happening to us? We learn about near-Earth asteroids, their moonlets, and the DART mission’s plan to change an asteroid’s orbit. Discover the asteroid Didymos and it’s moonlet Dimorphos. What is going to happen when the spacecraft makes impact? How do we use physics and orbital ballistics to get the DART spacecraft to the asteroid? Are we prepared for an asteroid headed towards us? Tune in on September 26th at 7:00 pm ET to see the DART spacecraft complete it’s mission at nasa.gov.
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson
0:00 - Introduction
0:45 - Planetary Defense
2:16 - DART
3:30 - Didymos’s Orbit5:32 - What Could Go Wrong?
7:07 - Didymos’s Moonlet
9:49 - Areas of Uncertainty
11:11 - Impactor Instruments
12:01 - Hitting the Target
13:54 - Lindley Johnson’s Background
14:42 - Asteroid Detection
17:45 - Nemesis
18:56 - Early Deflection
19:50 - Orbital Models
21:15 - Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet
21:54 - CCD Technology
23:01 - Targeting Earth with Asteroids
24:31 - Time of Impact
24:39 - DART Website
25:21 - Closing Notes

[@StarTalk]

Watch NASA's Live Coverage of the DART Mission: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2e9Ynhmorxll8k

[@eamoralesl]

T minus 45 Minutes to impact !!!

[@melonymyers2436]

What great close-up shots before impact!

[@eamoralesl]

@@melonymyers2436 I was waiting to see a windshield or a ship, deep inside me I was hoping to see something like that

[@jordiewuje6192]

I watched it live last night. We are making great strides in science. These are truly exciting times.

[@chrisgotaguntime2386]

Trumps space force is actual a good idea

[@fit_pharmd4830]

Chuck is irreplaceable. It’s so good to see him introduced each and every time. Don’t get me wrong Neal brings the knowledge but the duo of them both is what makes Star Talk so entertaining and fascinating.

[@coryhobbs5386]

Cosmic balance is restored

[@SpecialAgentJamesAki]

100% it’s awesome to have a show where we can laugh and learn at the same time

[@djdaddy8080]

Plus he’s an Expanse fan so there’s bonus points there

[@BIDEN.THE.CHILD.GROOMER]

Chuck is an embarrassment to comedians and constantly interrupts with his played out jokes

[@fit_pharmd4830]

@@djdaddy8080 I love that show. I literally think it shows what our planet and human race will be doing in 1000 years from now. Only unrealistic thing are the propulsion systems the ships use. Rocket propulsion will not get us anywhere in space. What they should be showing is the alternative systems used by the black projects from various countries. Believe me when I say the silent crafts we see flying around are real and use exotic materials combined with a very different form of propulsion.

[@Darkserebro]

gotta love chuck for referencing the Expanse, with the 'inter-planetary terrorist', Brilliant show anyone that hasn't watched it, even better series of books. love this channel and love the work you all do.

[@ar1sm70]

Best sci-fi show I’ve seen in years, maybe ever!

[@fakeaintreal]

Agreed is so good

[@xplanenation2865]

@@ar1sm70 you mean this video? I would have to agree it's pretty well thought out sci-fi.

[@ar1sm70]

@@xplanenation2865 I was actually talking about The Expanse show in response to a comment.

[@felixgcab]

I thought he was referencing Starship Troopers

[@mickeybrumfield764]

Sure am glad we have Dr. Tyson asking good questions for us.

[@pearlrival3124]

I hope this is a joke.

[@Imagicka]

I'm here for Chuck's questions

[@pearlrival3124]

@aDBo'Ch 1 he needs to get on Lex friedmans show. Far more professional. This was utter nonsense. Can’t believe Neil is acting so foolish.

[@21972012145525]

Nothing wrong with going on both? I personally fall asleep every time I try watching lex Friedman ‘s podcast

[@pearlrival3124]

@@21972012145525 perhaps neil is catering to the wrong audience

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Fascinating. As with all other Start Talk shows, I'd love to hear more on this subject. Thank you, Neil and all the great guests.

[@ddpwe5269]

Chuck, The Expanse! The best show representing our solar system!

[@oscarmedina1303]

Yes! If you don't have nukes, throwing big camouflaged asteroids is a cheap alternative.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Great speaker. Thanks for explaining.

[@Yan_Rasso]

My only concern with DART is the space objects that we don’t see. There is a ton of objects in the solar system. The fact that our planet hasn’t had a facelift in a long time is amazing.

[@Morningstar437]

I was thinking the same, so much is going on the Interstellar space, I haven't forgotten the omuamua yet, we don't know how long for the Jupiter is going to protect us, we have plans for decades but don't know what the Nasa will reveal the very next morning, we are doomed....

[@3756hans]

They say they are successfully tracking everything bigger than city killers and there are none on collision course.

[@doughboiwinston5121]

The facelift fact is an answer unto itself, we are not alone here..

[@GlenHunt]

Maybe this is the right time for the Chuck Nice Space Laser to be on standby, just in case someone forgot to carry the 1.

[@GaMeOvErRules]

I could literally listen to space talk until I die. I find it truly the most fascinating topic out there

[@TheBuckeyeJeff]

Following this event closely. Great video!!

[@itsd0nk]

@ 5:32 Chuck asked the EXACT question I immediately had right there. Love you, Chuck lol.

[@diegofernandez4789]

Yes Chuck! Marco Inaros is the guy sending the asteroids towards the earth. Great series by the way.

[@annmarie3769]

Love Love Love Love 💕 I feel like I can't Thank you enough for taking the time informing us all with these exciting interesting topics!

[@PurpleHazeNation]

These are getting better and better. I'm a fan.

[@manchoguy4220]

Amazing video thanks for another lesson !!

[@mikecooperstein5602]

Hey man, I've never commented on anything before but I am compelled to applaud and thank you for your attempt to remind us of the utter imperativeness (not a word apparently, but should be) of embracing the scientific method again. I'm referring to your new book, which I haven't read but can tell instantly from your interview at MSNBC with the dude that's bad at math, that your intentions are to re-establish the sanctity of truth, because anything other than the truth only adds to the confusion. I share your reverence for truth. Something that should be so self evident isn't and we all need to hear it.

[@Gamefreak8112]

39 min on the countdown and I'm here to warm up. let's go baby!

[@Nevenblue]

It's the 26th September about 2 hours before impact. I'm nervous but also have full trust in NASA's abilities

[@dinosaurandnapkin]

Just commenting for interaction. Love your content! Never stop!

[@neliotuga]

I love this channel. Great videos and easy to understand, no need to be an expert. Love the comedy's finesse touch.

[@TON-vz3pe]

Obviously, there is a whole Series on this topic. Great research material. I am talking about "Salvation".

[@Corvaire]

Im curious if the smaller debri that also orbits the larger bodies is a worry for trajectory deflection.

[@thePhished]

"Im the Planetary Defense Officer" thats quite the conversation starter.

[@lautabott_uy]

Love his moustache, brings some good memories.

[@midnightgir6]

Did Chuck make a reference to The Expanse?

[@joehebert789]

Now to work on deflecting solar flares. 😃

[@junesilvermanb2979]

Solar flare en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flare

[@theofaron961]

I'm watching the NASA channel right now. A lot of interesting info!

[@humbertoramirez8165]

Seems Chuck is a fan of The Expanse. Referencing Marco Inaros' actions.

[@SerDunk]

Keep looking up yall 🌎

[@toddmerrill7948]

I was lucky enough to get an invite for myself and my father in-law to a viewing event on Mon night at the John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab for the DART impact. Very excited to hear some of the guest speakers and see the telemetry roll in before I head down to the Cape the next morning for my own launch exercise.

[@Sleepyboiwonder]

Enjoy!

[@ThoughtfulPotato]

Good luck!! Hope you have a great time!

[@SuzySuziko]

Well, you know that they say: People that worry too much about Asteroids end up with Hemorrhoids.

[@maccrew612]

This precision is mind boggling to me.

[@BillyMcBride]

Talent all across the board.

[@fabiobraz576]

16:30 The show is "The Expanse", really good to watch.

[@kingvon1809]

How crazy is it that I was watching this video on the 26th of September at 7:14 eastern time🤣😂 I know but I was not.

[@Dabber234]

The expanse is the show chuck is referring to, amazing show btw

[@DannerBanks]

Chuck absolutely slays me

[@manoharshenoy4800]

My feeling is that we need not worry so much from asteroids destroying our planet but worry more about some of our crazy leaders of some countries of our planet.

[@boneskhan7816]

We can walk and chew gum at the same time lol

[@tomdouken]

NDT should run for President!

[@nyc220guy]

He's too reasonable and intelligent to handle peoples political stupidity.

[@johnnysam5430]

man all i gotta say you and chuck gotta make a documentary word up

[@andreykolobikhin]

Nice looking! - And good speeding up! 👍

[@andreykolobikhin]

ALL ages are just perfect... Rockets are good... But it is like bike. Not more complex. As for gifts from highests - u got it. 😏👍🌍👍😉

[@esszee7426]

I had written in the year 2002 to a certain place in the USA about changing the course of an approaching asteroid.

[@Phillice]

So with our current observational capabilities, how long would we need to detect a previously unknown object coming through or from the Oort Cloud heading directly to earth? Could we miss it for a couple years after leaving the Oort Cloud towards us?

[@tyleranyways]

Coincidentally, I'm watching Deep Impact (1998) now

[@theofaron961]

Don't Look Up is an incredible movie. More in line with this.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Spoiler alert! Impact wasn't deep. Barely a scratch.

[@iliasiosifidis4532]

Chuck Nice watched "The Expance" :D Marko Inaros was my favourite character

[@DouglasJMark]

DART is really exciting…in super slow motion.

[@Quwucuqin]

I love this show

[@Danymok]

I'm very surprised that those two asteroids make an orbiting system. I didn't think something that small would be able to have a moonlet at all

[@MeesterG]

Comets will still be a big problem right? Since we'll probably won't see that coming for a long time ahead + it's speed will be a lot higher?

[@ooichiewlean548]

Wow, it's like playing snooker in space, adjust to the power of shifting that stone by 1 inch 👍

[@byronwatkins2565]

If we can collect debris along the way, then we can make the interaction more effective without lifting that mass from earth. Also, today most cameras use CMOS sensors instead of CCDs.. CCDs still have cleaner signals so most research instruments still use them; however, CMOS technology is improving and it is possible that this also will soon change.

[@ahsahsahs9043]

Nice one guys

[@thundercatt5265]

yes : all you gotta do is push it enough off coarse ,or off the trajectory towards the earth and size plays a factor as well ,but yes it's within our power to do

[@Mofi357]

just need to shoot missiles at it. that attach side thruster's to gently persuade it of course , the further away the less degrees u need to nudge it

[@nyc220guy]

Push it off course with a stable and predictable trajectory as there is still a major factor to consider... Gravity. The Sun, the planets, etc.

[@kailerbritton]

Dude I love these

[@Turn420]

God, I love Chuck 😂

[@laurafortier9295]

This guy reminds me of the Office Space guy. "I talk to the customers!"

[@datmeme8967]

If NASA mounted a mission to deflect an asteroid headed for an impact with earth and didn't want to panic the public, what would the perfect cover story be?

[@TheRealDealNeal]

Lol I see what you are saying

[@tonyfreeman3800]

Will this be shown live on KZbin? Would love to see the footage! 💥

[@majormasibo5143]

It is live

[@eyesyc]

It's a little hard to believe that we are just getting around to this, but extremely proud we have the right people on it.

[@JJs_playground]

Good thing they called it DART and not *FART* (first asteroid redirect test). Lol

[@Gaming_with_Martin]

Asteroids are a real unseen danger that eventually may come knocking

[@someoneelse2472]

And such impacting sea would cause rains and tsunami. As it has happened in past several times. Surface of the moon is good examplee of amount there is rocks flying around. Moon receives every hit on its surface, and older hits will just and only disappear by hits coming after, covering older ones

[@nyc220guy]

The Earth is hit by about 6,000 meteors (large enough to reach the ground) and about 17,000 meteorites each year. It's inevitable that an asteroid hitting Earth WILL happen eventually.

[@someoneelse2472]

@@nyc220guy so, moon is hit about 1/4 of that amount per day, and every bit hits the surface. Now build a base in there.. :) wonder how many hits ISS has received already, or satellites, which in turn, creates more debris that can hit other gear up there

[@greatoak7661]

The MOST ACCURATE targeting practice EVER! "Around the Earth, past the Moon, nothing but Didymos." 🙂

[@Burnt-Ceiling3]

Love ya Chuck

[@trevorcole7455]

Does time physically age?

[@synchro-dentally1965]

Yes, but it depends on its mood

[@starkillerbeats420]

Space and time are the same so yes

[@Rony-L]

I thought the past, present and future are all happening at the same “time,” so I guess the answer is all of the above. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@tomdouken]

That is the highest question I’ve ever heard 😂

[@okaydetar821]

Depends on what you mean by "time". Also depends on what you mean by "age". Also depends on what you mean by "physically".

[@jimcrutcher1845]

After observing the impact yesterday, my first thought was My first thought was "Hey, Dimorphos... This one's for the dinosaurs!"

[@lemsx1]

Another excellent episode with an excellent panelist. One question I have is: was Neil drinking red wine before or during this 🙂

[@Morningstar437]

Well you guys should also incorporate some graphics and animations to make videos for intriguing.

[@geekdownrange]

Marco Inaros sends his regards (what Chuck is worried about)

[@mkhoirulfatikhin8768]

I think Marco was browsing through the old archive of videos and thought, 'Well, that is a nice idea, Chuck." 😅

[@DirtDigglerDetecting]

God Bless These Men :)

[@junesilvermanb2979]

❤️

[@fredrikthelin1572]

As I said my flying machines use this a must between galaxies.

[@Harlemworldboy]

How can I ask a question?

[@robertonavarro8701]

Could you explain the aiming more? This seems harder than firing two guns a mile from each other and having the bullets collide. Aren’t those rocks coming way faster than an F22?

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Neil and Chuck for 2024

[@Nootje2000]

What about something like oumuamua coming towards us. Would we even notice it?

[@jacobcrumb3323]

You always hear the term just outside of our solar system meaning past the furthest planet in orbit but what about above and below our solar system? 🤔🌍📡

[@kennyw871]

Have we explored all possibilities? Couldn't we just land a can of hair spray on an asteroid and have it go off once in awhile?

[@fakeaintreal]

Properly if its early Enough

[@impeachy1518]

You trying to give the asteroid a beehive, maybe a B-52 or something?!😂

[@cruelworld1902]

Asteroid is bald

[@Russia-bullies]

because the inhabitants may not have hair.😁

[@Russia-bullies]

@@cruelworld1902 .😁

[@ruthtepin2130]

I recall a rather large meteor that flew through Russia a few years ago that took everyone by surprise. Everyone was focused on DA14 asteroid. Is that because it wasn't large enough to be consider a real threat?

[@MrInuhanyou123]

Yes. There are a lot of small asteroids that we can't keep track of so the priority is bigger targets that could actually cause major damage

[@phizicks]

16:37 you're talking about The Expanse

[@stevemarks1511]

If the Universe is expanding what would happen if it stopped and even started to contract? How would that effect the Earth and our Sun?

[@V_Angelus]

did chuck just reference the Bobiverse in @16:27 ?

[@Gallardosteve]

And it worked!!

[@tonymcdowell480]

Think about it is it a good idea to start moving things in space around I personally want the moon closer

[@martynaspiliutis]

Hi @Startalk! Recently we all know that DART mission was successful. Also Apophis recently passed Earth and returning in 7 years. Could DART mission be used on Apophis?

[@kathrynmoore4071]

Thanks!

[@StarTalk]

Thank you!

[@kathrynmoore4071]

Thank you for all the hard work and amazing content you bring to us!

[@husnainanwaar1992]

what is the maximum weight that can be launch and reach a asteroid ;

[@koreyhelms6857]

As long as we have the time space and dimension we can deflect an asteroid as long as we have adequate enough time in order to prepare that's why we have to keep looking up

[@nyc220guy]

It's actually extremely difficult to detect and/or see asteroids. Most of the ones that we have detected have been through luck. They are usually small and dark. Very difficult to see with a dark backdrop (space).

[@123isaacg]

We LOVE CHUCK ❤

[@mateusnicolinibezerra9757]

An Italian camera will record the impact in Space? Hopefully it doesn't switch sides and joins the Asteroids 🤣

[@cbwavy]

I think we definitely have the ability to deflect an asteroid. Of course it depends on the astroid's path, its mass, timing, etc., but it will also take a significant international effort.

[@Mofi357]

just need to shoot missiles at it. that attach side thruster's to gently persuade it of course , the further away the less degrees u need to nudge it

[@BamBamSubscribe]

but everyone’s focused on each other sadly.

[@toukoenriaze9870]

Finally a good use for all those missiles we got aimed at eachother kek

[@northuniverse]

I'd speculate that even if we were masters at asteroid deflection, we wouldn't be able to detect all of the big fast ones coming our way. Especially the ones moving thousands of miles an hour.

[@blessedveteran]

Can you get him back on to talk about the results?

[@Scooty_Scooty]

I hope one day Neil becomes fascinated with Tea and starts a new podcast called Teatalk with Neil deGrasse Teason because Tea is everything! Tea 🍵

[@flynyy]

chuck and neil together is the best

[@deebo3864]

If anyone is curious, 4 miles per second which is the speed that dart travelled at, calculates to 14,400 miles per hour. To convert miles per second to miles per hour, simply take the miles per second and multiply it by 3600. The reason is that there are 3600 seconds in one hour.

[@phil20_20]

That looks like a Schroedinger's Catbox with wings...

[@junesilvermanb2979]

Schrödinger's cat en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrödinger's_cat

[@mastergaroa]

So is the moon-let epididymos?

[@AndrewBrownballroomdru]

In the Expanse not only does the protagonist move the asteroid. He attaches stealth technology to is so we don’t notice the asteroid until it is way too late.

[@motogeee510]

Happy birthday

[@MorningStarChrist]

Create a large amount of mass in space using particle physics, then use the curvature of space to redirect the asteroid.

[@nyc220guy]

I think you overestimate what modern science can achieve at the moment.