Sebastian Valdez
sebastian.valdez@stonybrook.edu

Project Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MbM9_PWaxDb9gWepONDZPlo0BbCFbrB2?usp=sharing

Title:
“The Future of Planetary Defense”

Synopsis:
This animation will feature the journey of a spacecraft known as DART on a high-speed collision course with Dimorphos, a moonlet of the near-Earth asteroid Didymos. Through this animation, the audience will be able to view the expedition and impact of the spacecraft and witness the innovative technology on display and the overall scale and effect of the project.

Objective:
The primary objective of this animation is to educate and inspire by illustrating the DART mission’s innovative approach to planetary defense. It aims to demonstrate the feasibility of kinetic impactor technology in changing the trajectory of an asteroid, highlight the importance of planetary defense and how humanity can prepare for potential asteroid threats, and engage a wide audience with captivating visuals that explain complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner.

Audience:
The anticipated audience for this animation would be science enthusiasts of all ages with an interest in space exploration, planetary defense, and new cutting-edge science and technology.

Sources:
NASA’s Official DART Mission Page
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dart/
NASA, “NASA’s DART Mission Confirms Crashing Spacecraft into Asteroids Can Deflect Them”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMu5bNadlGo
NASA, “DART’s Impact with Asteroid Dimorphos (Official NASA Broadcast)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RA8Tfa6Scko
Real Engineering, “The Insane Engineering of the DART Mission”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLirH3PPrXQ&t=644s

Illustrations: