A NASA mission to hit an asteroid with a rocket appears to have knocked it off course. 

New studies suggest NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft, launched in 2022, may have significantly altered the shape of the asteroid moon Dimorphos. 

Scientists have analysed the aftermath of this cosmic collision, revealing that not only was Dimorphos's trajectory altered, but its physical structure might have been transformed.

The DART mission, aimed at testing planetary defence techniques, successfully impacted Dimorphos on September 26, 2022. 

This event marked the first time humanity has intentionally modified the course of a celestial body. 

The spacecraft's impact shortened Dimorphos's orbital period around its parent asteroid, Didymos, by 33 minutes, a potential step forward in planetary defense strategies.

Further insights from the mission indicate that Dimorphos could be a “weak rubble pile”, comprised mainly of debris from Didymos. 

The reshaping, referred to as global deformation, suggests that the asteroid moon lacks large boulders on its surface, possessing a cohesive strength similar to other studied asteroids, Bennu and Ryugu.

The analysis used advanced shock physics simulations to replicate the impact. 

These simulations confirmed that the DART mission did not just alter Dimorphos's orbit but might have also caused a significant reshaping of its structure. 

The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, highlight the asteroid's low bulk density and surface characteristics, aligning closely with the initial data gathered by the DART spacecraft.

This research not only contributes to our understanding of binary asteroids but also sets the stage for future explorations and asteroid deflection missions, such as the European Space Agency's upcoming Hera mission.