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NASA DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test)

APL / Johns Hopkins · Planetary Defence Kinetic Impactor Demonstrator · USA · Digital Age (2010–present)

NASA DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) — Planetary Defence Kinetic Impactor Demonstrator
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The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a NASA space mission to test a method of planetary defense against near-Earth objects (NEOs). It was designed to assess how much a spacecraft impact can deflect an asteroid by hitting it head-on. The target asteroid, Dimorphos, is a 525 feet (160 m) wide moonlet of the asteroid Didymos; neither asteroid poses an impact threat to Earth, but their joint characteristics made them an ideal target.

Specifications

Category
Space
Sub-Category
Space Probe
Domain
Civil
Era
Digital Age (2010–present)
Country
USA
Manufacturer
APL / Johns Hopkins
Operator
NASA
Primary Role
Planetary Defence Kinetic Impactor Demonstrator
Status
Retired
Service Entry
2022
Propulsion
Electric
Engine
NASA NEXT-C xenon ion thruster + hydrazine RCS
Thrust / Power
0.577 lbf (ion)
MTOW (lb)
1,210
Max Speed (mph)
14,750