Niue: Exceptional Silver Mega-Coin Tells the Story of NASA's Direct Asteroid Redirection Test

Scientists have long deduced the demise of the Dinosaurs was due to a 6-mile-wide comet or asteroid, which smashed into a part of Earth that we recognise as the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula 66 million years ago. The impact obliterated nearby dinosaurs and filled the sky with debris material that plunged the planet into a species-dooming winter. Ultimately the impact’s effects caused the blocking of sunlight, changing the climate and setting off global wildfires. Much of the planet’s existing species in every category of life was either eliminated or adversely affected. The mammals survived until an asteroid marked the end of the Cretaceous Period and the reign of larger dinosaurs. These mammals later evolved in diversity, which led to the world we see today. It was also hypothesised that the lack of competition from dinosaurs allowed many mammal species to evolve and diversify.

The question of what would the planet do if this scenario was ever repeated – could Earth ever defend itself from such a cataclysmic event. The world would soon learn of its ability to defend itself from such a doomsday scenario when NASA – the North American Space Agency came up with a proposal that would change the course of an asteroid which might come too close the Earth. Scientists in the United States developed a defence system they were eager to test well before any asteroid might threaten the Earth.

Dimorphos, a natural satellite or moon which was discovered in November 2003 was far enough from Earth but passing close enough to aim at with a defence system. The asteroid was not a direct threat to Earth, but because it does pass relatively close, it was the perfect choice as a target for NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test - DART mission – the agency's first mission to test planetary defense technology.

The plan was to crash a spacecraft into the nearby asteroid and test a possible strategy for deflecting asteroids that are headed for Earth.  The DART mission employed an asteroid-deflection technique known as a ‘kinetic impactor’ which in simplest terms means smashing one thing into another — in this case, a spacecraft into an asteroid. On the 26th September 2022 and at a cost $324.5 million the unmanned vehicle, the size of a golf cart was crashed into Dimorphos at 13,000 mph (21,000 km/h). NASA confirmed that it reduced the orbit of Dimorphos around its companion asteroid Didymos by a few millimeters per second. The test succeeded in knocking Dimorphos slightly off course and NASA successfully redirected the path of an asteroid using kinetic energy!

Will the technology ever be crucially needed or called upon to defend the planet from rogue asteroids? We may indeed have this question answered in the not-too-distant future when the asteroid Apophis is expected to pass within 19,794 miles (31,860 kilometers) from our planet's surface on the 13th April 2029. This will be the closest approach to Earth by an asteroid about 1,100 feet (340 meters) in width that scientists will know about in advance. With the success of NASA and DART, at least the planet has a sporting chance of avoiding the fate of the dinosaurs all those millions of years ago.

The silver mega-coins are commissioned by the Melbourne Coins & Collectables Company and produced by the New Century Mint at their facilities in Shanghai, China. The intricate and imaginative design is the work of artist Tom Vaughan who has chosen to feature the DART impactor craft itself, on its way to Dimorphos, the observatory craft which launched DART and recorded the impact & statistical information during the impact is shown just above and to the upper left. The primary imagery is shown with a background of Earth and astronomic charts and symbols. The reverse side tells a greater story of the planet’s history and the exact type of catastrophic event NASA and DART are hoping to prevent... the extinction of the dinosaurs, caused by a huge meteor collision with Earth millions of years ago. Earth is shown with the asteroid impacting and creating what is known as the Gulf of Mexico today. To the left, the image of a ferocious dinosaur and to the lower right, two pterodactyls in flight. The text of the coins’ specifications 5oz 999 SILVER 5 DOLLARS is seen along the rim above the primary design. The crest of Niue is placed to the lower half.

The DART coin is an exclusive product of the Melbourne Coins & Collectables Company and limited to 199 pieces. Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. Available for pre-order now, delivery is expected in early April. For additional information, please visit the Melbourne Coins & Collectables online webshop.