DARTmissio

DARTmission is a NASA spacecraft designed to test a kinetic impactor technique to deflect an asteroid. The mission is primarily focused on addressing the asteroid threat, a priority for space agencies worldwide. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a related NASA mission primarily focused on demonstrating asteroid deflection.

Launched on November 24, 2021, the spacecraft was built by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and was designed to collide with the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022. An impact between the DART spacecraft and Dimorphos is predicted to occur on the evening of September 26, 2022. This event will be the first attempt to deflect an asteroid using kinetic force. Dimorphos is a small asteroid moon of Didymos, orbiting it every 11 hours.

The primary mission objective is to modify Dimorphos' orbital period around Didymos by 10 minutes. Data obtained during and after the impact will provide insights into the effects of kinetic force on asteroid orbits. By studying the effects on Dimorphos' size, shape, and spin, scientists will be able to gain crucial knowledge about orbital velocity and other factors influencing asteroid behavior.

A survey of asteroid populations is also being carried out in conjunction with DART. The impactor element of the mission does not pose a threat to Earth. Didymos system space weathering is being studied in conjunction with the mission. Overall, DARTmission was commissioned with the goal of providing a direct means to mitigate asteroid threats.