According to The Associated Press, the agency launched its DART spacecraft late Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Scientists are purposely trying to crash the craft into the Dimorphos asteroid to see if such a collision could alter a space rock’s trajectory.
“DART’s target asteroid is NOT a threat to Earth,” NASA’s website says of the mission. “This asteroid system is a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future.”
Skygazers took to social media to share their photos of Tuesday night’s launch with the hashtags #NASA, #SpaceX and #DART. Here are some of our favorites:
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Space Launch Complex 4E, at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept In this image taken from NASA video, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, lifts off Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Space Launch Complex 4E, at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The DART spacecraft, short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Simi Valley, Calif., after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The DART spacecraft, short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, from Simi Valley, Calif., after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, is seen ready for launch, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, sits during sunrise, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, sits during sunrise, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Photos: NASA launches DART spacecraft to test asteroid defense concept In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, spacecraft onboard, sits during sunrise, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)