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NASA crashed its Double Asteroid Redirection Test aka DART spacecraft into an asteroid 6.8 million miles from Earth.  And Monday’s test was by all accounts a success.

The mission was designed to test the possibility of deflecting dangerous asteroids that are set on a collision course toward Earth.

The DART probe traveled at a speed greater than 14,000 miles per hour to hit the target asteroid about 17 meters or 55 ft from its exact center.

There was a direct hit on the 525 ft diameter asteroid named Dimorphos. This was confirmed and documented through space-based observations.

Images of test crash 

Dimorphos orbits a larger asteroid named Didymos. It is approximately 2,650 feet wide. Didymous can be seen in many of the images on the left of the DART targeted asteroid.

There were more than two dozen powerful ground-based telescopes focusing on the DART collision. And space-based cameras also captured detailed views of the intentional crash and its aftermath.

 A small Italian satellite outfitted with LICIACube's dual optical cameras captured some breathtaking images. The satellite was flying within 35 miles of the asteroid Dimorphos.

The satellite has a wide field of view, nicknamed LUKE, and a black-and-white camera, or LEIA, which takes high-resolution images. And it was deployed a safe distance from the test on September 11th.

DART also live streamed images until it crashed, as planned, into Dimorphos. And created a cloud of space debris.

During a livestream of the event, Elena Adams, DART's mission systems engineer, said the DART totally hit the "bullseye." 

"As far as we can tell, our first planetary defense test was a success." I think Earthlings should sleep better. Definitely, I will," she added

DART spacecraft mission success

During a livestream of the event, Elena Adams, DART's mission systems engineer, said "As far as we can tell, our first planetary defense test was a success." I think Earthlings should sleep better. Definitely, I will."

After the test images reveal a dent in the middle of the Didymous. And space scientists are already studying the spider-like feathery smoke and debris pouring out of space rock Dimorphos.

ATLAS is a Hawaii-based asteroid tracking telescope system which also viewed the DART test.

Larry Denneau, ATLAS principal investigator, told French news AFP that the monitored collision caused a "very, very big" expansion of debris that was "several thousand miles in diameter."

By studying the observations going forward and back astronomers will be able to see if the asteroid's trajectory has changed. 

The satellite LICIACube team said Tuesday that "Now weeks and months of hard work are now starting for scientists and technicians involved in this mission, so stay tuned because we will have a lot to tell!"