anyone want to say no? reporter: but instead of using a bomb like bruce willis, nasa is using something called kinetic deflection. that s a scientific way of saying this is on a kamikaze mission to try to push the asteroid off course. if it s successful, then if we had a real inbound killer asteroid, we could do that and it would miss us. reporter: it will take the rocket ten months to reach its target. it s so far away that nasa says it will not create a dangerous debris field in lower orbit like last week s test of a russian satellite weapon. the dart mission is creating an explosion and a deep debris field way out millions of miles in space where it is not harming anything. now, this asteroid is not a
debris field way out millions of miles in space where it is not harming anything. reporter: now, this asteroid is not a threat to earth nor is any other that we know of, though it is likely only a matter of time. but just in case, nasa did invite bruce willis to this launch. kristin fisher, cnn, washington. fascinating. 100,000 californians without power right now. we have a live report next. limu emu. & doug superpowers from a spider bite? i could use some help showing the world how liberty mutual customizes their car insurance so they only pay for what they need. (gasps)
paula, you were monitoring this news conference where we got the surprising news a short while ago that there was a new search area. what can you tell us? reporter: well, it definitely was a game changer, natalie, and on the good side of things, the new site is closer to land. that means that the teams will get more time in the site in the actual location where they believe the deep debris field to be. and the weather will be much better. having said that, though, it really was stunning news, and many people speculated that look, does this mean all the satellite searching, the data from days before, was it a waste of time? one official says we don t describe it as a waste of time. that is part of the investigation and the way these searches go. but i want you to listen to australian authorities and what they characterize as the area of the satellite images.
trying to find 176 people who remain unaccounted for right now. let s go straight to cnn s george howell on the scene for us with the very latest. george? reporter: wolf, we understand today that a volunteer search and rescue worker was injured when a piece of debris was thrown up by helicopter watch over head. that hitting him in the head. we understand that the injuries are minor injuries. still, it s a difficult job but rescuers are doing their best in the mud and muck. we understand today that that effort is also a recovery effort. the rain doesn t help. it only makes the 30 to 40-foot deep debris field even messier. the piled on mud and trees, crushed homes and cars, damaged propane and septic thanks making the search for survivors all the more challenging this is going to be a very long-term event. this will be something that goes into the weeks. for the first time, we re hearing some of the 911 calls