TL;DR: The DART mission successfully changed Dimorphos's orbit, demonstrating asteroid deflection. Hera arriving in 2026 will study the impact crater in detail, providing data relevant to both planetary defe
The DART mission successfully changed Dimorphos's orbit, demonstrating asteroid deflection. Hera arriving in 2026 will study the impact crater in detail, providing data relevant to both planetary defense and asteroid mining engineering.
Designation
65803 Didymos / Dimorphos
Type
S-type (stony, binary system)
Diameter Km
0.78 / 0.16 (binary)
Composition
Silicate; rubble pile; DART impact crater to be studied by Hera
Orbit
1.00-2.28 AU (near-Earth), period 2.11 years
Mining Potential
Medium - best-characterized binary system after Hera arrival 2026; DART impact data relevant for deflection and mining
Mission
DART (impact Sep 2022); Hera (arrival 2026)