Kinetic impactor technique

The kinetic impactor technique involves sending a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid at high speed, with the goal of changing its course slightly. By nudging the asteroid, this method aims to prevent a potential collision with Earth. The process relies on the momentum transfer from the spacecraft to the asteroid, gradually altering its trajectory without breaking it apart. This approach is a straightforward and promising form of planetary defense, tested in missions like NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirect Test). It’s a precise way to influence an asteroid’s path, reducing impact risk.