We've all seen those blockbuster movies in which scientists lay out complicated, risky plans to save Earth from an incoming asteroid. And those plans are almost always dependent on a bit of luck.
But what would really happen in real life?
NASA thinks it has an answer, and the space agency demonstrated that solution in a concept video (below) posted on Friday.
SEE ALSO:This is how NASA spots potentially dangerous asteroids near EarthThe video shows NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) vehicle deliberately crashing itself into one component of the binary asteroid system called Didymos.
"DART would be NASA’s first mission to demonstrate what's known as the kinetic impactor technique -- striking the asteroid to shift its orbit -- to defend against a potential future asteroid impact," Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer at NASA, said in a statement in June.
The plan is part of an international effort to develop a planetary defense program to address asteroids that might pose a danger to Earth.
The kinetic impact test will be carried out years from now, beginning with the first part of the mission in 2020 with the launch of two spacecraft, and execution of the test occurring in 2022.
In addition to NASA, partners in the plan include the European Space Agency (ESA), the Observatoire de la Côte d´Azur (OCA), and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL).
It may be years before we find out if this is effective, but at least we're finally coming up with extinction-level event asteroid contingency plans that don't include migrating to Mars with Elon Musk.
(责任编辑：娛樂)
Slack goes down again, prompting anxiety everywhere
Cambridge Analytica suspends CEO Alexander NixCryptocurrency businesses aren't afraid of Google and Facebook ad bansMcDonald's Australia makes its regular menu available for breakfastThis German startup wants to be your bank (without being a bank)17 questions you can answer if you're a good communicator
Whether you regularly speak in public and write online, or you mostly express yourself over email, b
...[详细]Is there going to be 'Outlander' Season 5?
Everyone's favorite show that isn't 。 Game of Thrones 。is coming back for a fifth season. 。In lieu of a
...[详细]This Toyota magazine ad that measures your heart rate is way too much
Well, that's one way to get attention!
。Toyota's 2018 Camry ad in this month's 。 InStyle 。magazine let'
...[详细]LinkedIn stalking is low key the biggest thing in online dating
LinkedIn isn't the first social network you think of when looking for love. But, like it or not, it'
...[详细]One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a close
One of the world's biggest media companies has been embroiled in a complex personal and professional
...[详细]Little girl uses the Cambridge Analytica controversy to ask her dad for a puppy
When you really, really want something, you do everything within your power to make it happen.
。 This
...[详细]NASA's Kepler spacecraft has been peering deep into the Milky Way galaxy for nearly a decade. It has
...[详细]Salma Hayek is firmly against Barbie's Frida Kahlo doll
Salma Hayek is not here for Barbie's Frida Kahlo doll.。For International Women's Day this year, Barb
...[详细]Here's George Takei chilling in zero gravity for the 'Star Trek' anniversary
There's nothing like good friends, good memories and zero gravity to celebrate a milestone. 。In honor
...[详细]Cambridge Analytica suspends CEO Alexander Nix
The British data firm that's come under fire for its use of ill-gotten Facebook user data has suspen
...[详细]Richard Branson 'thought he was going to die' in bike accident
Parkland activist has best response to transparent backpack rule