Nasa tests defence technology by crashing spacecraft into asteroid

Nasa has successfully crashed a spacecraft into a small asteroid as part of a planetary protection test mission. While this asteroid – named Dimorphos – posed no threat to Earth, the aim of the mission was to demonstrate that dangerous incoming rocks can be deflected by deliberately smashing into them. “IMPACT SUCCESS!” Nasa tweeted after its spacecraft, known as Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Dart), collided with the 170-metre wide (560ft) asteroid about 12.20am UK time on Tuesday. Continue reading: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world... Click here to subscribe to the Evening Standard: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Evening-S... About The Evening Standard: The latest breaking news from the UK, US and around the world, plus podcasts and features from the Evening Standard in London Connect with The Evening Standard: Check out our full video catalog:    / londoneveningstandard   Videos, daily editorial and more: https://www.standard.co.uk/ Like The Evening Standard on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/eveningstandard Follow The Evening Standard on Twitter:   / eveningstandard   Follow us on Instagram:   / evening.standard