![]() ![]() ![]() The Estrack and DSN communicate with the DART mission for about an hour every day when it is visible to their antennae. The network is bolstered by 11 ground stations across the globe (the “Cooperative Network”) and five stations in remote areas of the world (the “Augmented Network”). The spacecraft will be relying on its autonomous guidance and navigation control systems at this point to maneuver itself into position for impact. In fact, the DART mission will not be able to distinguish between Dimorphos and its parent body until the last hour before impact. Striking Dimorphos will be no easy task, as the moonlet is only 140 to 200 meters (460 to 656 ft) wide, roughly the same size as the Pyramid of Giza. The event will be broadcast live worldwide and feature data streams from the DART during its final 12 hours before it strikes its target.Īt the time of impact, DART will be at a distance of 11 million km (6.8 million mi) from Earth and traveling at a speed of 22,000 km/h (13,670 mph). ![]() This method involves a spacecraft striking an asteroid to alter its orbit and divert it from a trajectory that would cause it to collide with Earth. By 01:14 UTC (07:14 PM EDT 04:14 PM PDT), this spacecraft will collide with the small moonlet orbiting the asteroid (Dimorphos) to test the “kinetic impactor” method of planetary defense. On September 26th, NASA’s Double-Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) will rendezvous with the Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) Didymos. ![]()
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