«Radiocarbon dating (usually referred to as simply carbon dating) is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally
occurring radioisotope carbon - 14 (14C) to estimate the age of carbon - bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years.»
To address concerns about the spacecraft's
radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which are commonly used for NASA missions, NASA responded by issuing a supplementary document about the flyby and detailing the agency's methodology for protecting the planet, saying there was less than a one - in - a-million chance of an impact
occurring.