NASA is launching a probe (m = 500 kg) at a small asteroid

Last updated: 7/6/2022

NASA is launching a probe (m = 500 kg) at a small asteroid (m = 2000 kg). The asteroid is traveling at 100 m/s, and the probe is moving perpendicularly toward it with a speed of 400 m/s. Unfortunately, the landing gear does not work right, so the probe bounces off the asteroid. After the collision, the asteroid is knocked off its course by 71° and is now going 165 m/s. If the probe's speed is now 300 m/s, in what direction is it going?