NASA is launching the first mission to deflect asteroids

NASA is launching the first mission to test the ability to deflect asteroids toward the moon for potential use in the future to deflect a threat from space.

The asteroid redirect mission is a project of NASA's NEO program.

First mission to test ability to divert a threatening asteroid toward Earth: NASA (News - web.com)

First mission to test ability to divert a threatening asteroid toward Earth: NASA

The space agency will launch an asteroid-deflection mission for the first time to help guide future efforts to protect the Earth from a "doomsday asteroid."

Astronaut Tim Peake, who has been traveling to the International Space Station, will take the lead on the mission, known as Near Earth Object (NEO) Redirect. The project aims to find, track and maneuver an asteroid, called 2016 AG5, that is just a half-mile wide.