NASA’s one-way mission to deflect an asteroid is planned to blast off tonight.
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test is set to begin its 10-month journey to nudge a space rock out of its orbit.
The mission will be the first time NASA has trailed the ‘kinetic impact’ technique.
NASA’s defence coordinator office has commented that while it is unlikely the asteroid will hit us during our lifetimes, it is important to test the real kinetic impact strategy for future incidents.