Since NASA’s announcement that they are launching a one-way mission to see if it’s possible to change the direction of an asteroid in case one ever poses a threat to Earth, Twitter has almost unanimously thought up of a better solution — Bruce Willis.
Day and night, we search the skies for asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. But what if we found one? @JHUAPL’s Justyna Surowiec helps tell the story of #DARTMission, our first test of planetary defense: https://t.co/hiAfCp3qrp pic.twitter.com/0mbGzPOmHx
— NASA (@NASA) November 23, 2021
COMING UP: #DARTMission launch! 🚀
— NASA (@NASA) November 24, 2021
Our first test of #PlanetaryDefense is set to lift off at 1:21am ET (06:21 UTC) to attempt to change the motion of a non-threatening asteroid. Tune in at 12:30am ET (05:30 UTC) for live coverage: https://t.co/z1RgZwQkWS pic.twitter.com/qiOjrLLquM
Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you!
— NASA (@NASA) November 24, 2021
Riding a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, our #DARTMission blasted off at 1:21am EST (06:21 UTC), launching the world's first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology. pic.twitter.com/FRj1hMyzgH
While NASA has already launched their first mission to test their asteroid-deflecting technology, Bruce Willis already did the job in 1998’s Armageddon. When an asteroid threatens to collide with Earth, NASA honcho Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) determines the only way to stop it is to drill into its surface and detonate a nuclear bomb. This leads him to renowned driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), who agrees to helm the dangerous space mission provided he can bring along his own hotshot crew.
Per Deadline, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said the agency invited Willis to the launch, but Nelson said the actor won’t be there. Given Willis’ memorable turn in Armageddon, Nelson said “we didn’t want to miss that connection.” Were they making a reference to Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” from the film? Nice one, NASA.
