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Science In Action: The final moments of DART

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29/09/2022 GMT

The final moments of DART

BBC World Service - Science In Action, The final moments of DART

Reflections on NASA’s latest mission as it hits an asteroid 11 million km from earth

As the images trickle in from NASA’s DART mission, we ask whether the mission was a success. Also this week, Roland visits a vast biobank storing 20 years of genetic information.

NASA’s latest mission, DART hit the headlines this week after the space agency’s satellite successfully collided with a far off asteroid. The mission acts as a demonstration of Earth’s first planetary defence system. Jon Amos, one of BBC’s Science correspondents, talks Roland through the final moments of the DART satellite. Although the collision was a success, we may have to wait a little longer before we know if the asteroid’s trajectory has been altered…

Simone Pirrotta, project manager at the Italian Space Agency, has more to add. His nifty camera system broke away 10 days before DART’s collision, ensuring its own survival. This celestial drive by is guaranteed to provide scientific data to get excited about.

Also this week, we visit the China Kadoorie Biobank. Twenty years in the making, it houses a collection of over half a million genetic samples, which might help identify links between our own genetic compositions and illness. Roland Pease visited them in Oxford to find out more.

Finally, a new review describes the use of mercury by ancient Mayans. The metal is famous for its use across a plethora of civilizations throughout history. Andrea Sella from University College London, tells Roland how his favourite element underpins industrialisation across the ages and the globe.

Image: An illustration of the DART spacecraft headed toward its target
Credit: NASA/John Hopkins APL

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Harrison Lewis, Robbie Wojciechowski

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