NASA's DART Mission Alters Asteroid's Orbit, Reveals Rubble-Pile Structure

The successful impact on Dimorphos by NASA's DART spacecraft has reshaped the asteroid and provided valuable insights for planetary defense.

NASA's DART mission reshaped the asteroid Dimorphos, altering its orbit and surface composition.
The impact caused global deformation of Dimorphos, suggesting it has a loose, rubble-pile structure.
Close-up images from the CubeSat LICIACube reveal complex debris patterns, indicating a weak interior of Dimorphos.
The findings could improve future asteroid deflection efforts and contribute to planetary defense strategies.
Upcoming ESA mission Hera will provide further insights into the DART impact's effects on Dimorphos.