9. DART could forever alter our relationship with space
This is, in my humble estimation, one of the most important missions in the entire history of space exploration. Learning about our solar system and searching for signs of life are obviously very important, but developing the capacity to prevent an asteroid from smashing into Earth would be a massive accomplishment, as it could someday save us from potential extinction. DART is a small but very important step in this direction.
DART is also important in that it’s our first foray into solar system re-engineering. The Anthropocene, the ongoing human-caused geological epoch, will eventually trickle into space, as we tweak the orbits of asteroids, mine celestial bodies for valuable resources, terraform dead planets, and possibly even seek to extend the life of our Sun. But first things first—let’s give Dimorphos a tiny shove and take it from there.
More: 12 Ways Humanity Could Destroy The Entire Solar System.
