Only a few robotic spacecraft have encountered asteroids up close. Here are some highlights of those missions:
Asteroid moonlet Dimorphos as seen by the DART spacecraft 11 seconds before impact. DART’s DRACO imager captured this image from a distance of 42 miles (68 kilometers). This image was the last to contain all of Dimorphos in the field of view. Dimorphos is roughly 525 feet (160 meters) in length. Dimorphos’ north is toward the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) – the world’s first planetary defense technology demonstration – successfully impacted asteroid Dimorphos on Sept. 27, 2022, in the agency’s first attempt to move an asteroid in space. Dimorphos is a moonlet to asteroid Didymos.
This mosaic shows some of the Dawn spacecraft's best views of asteroid Vesta. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCAL/MPS/DLR/IDA
NASA's Dawn spacecraft was launched in 2007 to explore asteroid Vesta, the second most massive body in the main asteroid belt. Dawn arrived at Vesta in 2011, then orbited and explored Vesta for over a year before leaving in September 2012 to explore dwarf planet Ceres.
Japan's Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 on a six-year voyage to study asteroid Ryugu, and to collect samples to bring back to Earth for analysis. Hayabusa2 arrived at the asteroid in June 2018. The spacecraft deployed rovers and landers onto Ryugu’s surface and collected a sample. Hayabusa2 delivered the asteroid sample to Earth on Dec. 6, 2020.
On Oct. 20, 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft conducted its Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection event. This series of images shows the SamCam imager’s field of view as the spacecraft approaches and briefly touches Bennu’s surface. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
Launched on Sept. 8, 2016, NASA's OSIRIS-REx arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2018, and collected a sample of dust and rocks. On April 9, 2021, the spacecraft took one last look at Bennu before beginning its journey back to Earth. It's on track to deliver the asteroid sample to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023.
NASA's NEOWISE spacecraft is orbiting Earth to improve on the most accurate survey of near-Earth objects ever undertaken.
The Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based radar observatories also contribute regularly to our understanding of asteroids. Several more missions, including NASA's Psyche and Lucy, missions are in development to keep exploring these small worlds. Scientists also use ground-based radar to explore nearby asteroids whenever possible.
Exploration Highlights
More Exploration Highlights
NASA's Galileo mission was the first spacecraft to fly past an asteroid. It flew past asteroid Gaspara in 1991 and Ida in 1993.
The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko also flew by asteroid (2867) Steins in 2008, and asteroid Lutetia in 2010.
In 2005, the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa landed on the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa and attempted to collect samples. On June 3, 2010, Hayabusa successfully returned to Earth a small amount of asteroid dust now being studied by scientists.
Notable Explorers
Notable Explorers
Yvonne Pendleton
Director
"When people align their talents with their heart's desires, there is no limit to what they can accomplish."
Mike A’Hearn devoted his life to exploration, and his work has transformed our understanding of what comets are made of and how they interact within our corner of the universe.
Sometimes I can't believe I'm doing this job. It can be difficult at times, but then, if I get an opportunity to go speak to a school group, or speak in public, all of a sudden it's all really exciting.
"I grew up in a small town where working at NASA was unheard of. I worked hard, persevered, and eventually made it to where I am despite many obstacles along the way."
"For most of my career, I have been computer modeling the motions of comets and asteroids and making predictions as to where their future motions will take them."
"When I made the move from West Virginia to California, I packed up only what would fit in my small Jeep, put my two beloved pups in the front seat, and set out solo."
The important thing about being a scientist or an engineer is learning how to think critically, learning how to be creative, learning problem solving and learning how to learn.
Explore in 3D
Eyes on the Solar System
Fly along with the Dawn mission as it explorers Ceres and the asteroid belt with NASA’s free Eyes on the Solar System software. Eyes lets you explore the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets and the spacecraft exploring them from 1950 to 2050 all from the comfort of your home computer.
