NASA crashed a spacecraft into a space rock, accelerating two asteroids’ orbit around the sun - CNN

NASA's DART spacecraft intentionally crashed into the small asteroid Dimorphos in 2022 and the impact measurably changed the orbits of that object and a nearby companion, confirming a kinetic impactor can alter an asteroid's path. Long-term observations of how impacts redistribute material help refine models of debris dispersal and crater formation. Recovering meteorites from the Northeast Ohio fireball would supply direct physical samples that complement remote and experimental planetary defense work by improving understanding of small-body composition and impact outcomes.