Overview

• The Planetary Science Journal paper published Aug. 21 provides the most detailed on-site estimate of material blasted from Dimorphos after the 2022 DART impact.
• Scientists estimate about 35.3 million pounds (16 million kilograms) of debris was ejected, under 0.5% of the asteroid’s mass yet roughly 30,000 times the spacecraft’s mass.
• The escaping rubble imparted a shove several times stronger than the direct hit, behaving like a brief rocket-like thrust from the plume.
• Analysis of 18 images indicates millimeter-scale or larger particles dominated an opaque inner plume, with nearly 45% of the total mass hidden from view and inferred through modeling.
• LICIACube provided the only close-up views during a 15,000 mph flyby, imaging roughly every three seconds from as near as about 53 miles, complementing remote measurements that found a 33-minute orbital period reduction.