Apply NOW for NASA's DART Mission to crash spacecraft into an asteroid; deadline August 15

NASA with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission is all set to soon crash a spacecraft into a non-hazardous asteroid in order to test planetary defence techniques. The mission, if successful, will provide knowledge about what to do if an asteroid is actually heading for Earth and will crash into it, destroying much of humanity. If you want to join the research organisation to see the DART Mission intentionally crash into an asteroid, you will have to apply for the same. The last date to apply is August 15, 2022. Also, it needs to be noted that because of the security deadlines, registration is limited to U.S. citizens only. If you have a valid permanent resident card you will be processed as a U.S. citizen. The NASA Social event will occur on Monday, September 26, 2022.

"Our #DARTMission will soon collide with a non-hazardous asteroid as a test of planetary defense. Know someone who should hang with us at @JHUAPL for the main event, and share behind-the-scenes details? Tag them! Is it you? Apply by Aug. 15," NASA tweeted on Sunday. According to the information provided by NASA, this will be the world's first mission to deflect an asteroid in space. NASA’s DART, built and managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, will demonstrate and test asteroid deflection by kinetic impactor.

"The spacecraft will deliberately collide with a target asteroid—which poses no threat to Earth—to change its speed and path. If successful, DART’s kinetic impact method could be used in the future if a hazardous asteroid on a collision course with Earth were ever discovered," NASA said in a report.

The NASA Social event will include a tour of facilities at the Johns Hopkins APL, a chance to join the research organisation as a guest for the live broadcast where DART aims to impact its target asteroid, interaction and Q&A with experts from the DART mission, an opportunity to attend a special screening of the IMAX film “Asteroid Hunters” and attend a Q&A session with the director, an opportunity to learn about other NASA missions being built at Johns Hopkins APL- like the Dragonfly Mission to Saturn’s largest moon Titan.

Up to 20 social media users will be selected to attend this one-day event and will be given access similar to news media. NASA Social registration for the DART social opened on August 10 and the deadline to apply for the same is August 15 at 9 a.m. EDT.

Once to apply for the mission and after registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected. The first notifications are expected to be sent on August 22 and waitlist notifications on August 26.