DART Space mission - The beginning of the planetary defense
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| DART Spacecraft |
Earth is at a high risk of being hit by asteroids. There are thousands of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter.
These asteroids pose a huge threat to life on earth. Some of these are asteroids that could even cause human extinction.
DART is also known as the double asteroid redirection test involves hitting a spacecraft into an asteroid.
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| DART Infographics |
What does DART exactly do?
This is the first planetary defense mission. The main goal of this mission is to change the orbit of the asteroid.
Keep in mind, this is a demonstration mission to prove we have the ability to defend ourselves from asteroids. The aim of the mission is to test the effects of hitting an asteroid. DART is expected to measure the asteroid's surface temperature. The object's response to impact is also expected.
The DART project is meant to protect our planet from asteroids. It is a NASA mission that will be launched on November 24,2021.
The project is the largest test in history where NASA will launch the spacecraft from a safe distance. The probe will safely crash into the surface of the asteroid.
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| DART Spacecraft |
Payloads on Board
It has a single Payload called DRACO(Didymos reconnaissance and asteroid camera for optical navigation). This instrument will help scientists to measure the shape and size of this asteroid.
It also has a sun sensor and a star tracker. There is also a CubeSat called LICIACube which helps in imaging the impact and the impact crater that appears after the collision.
Launch vehicle
SpaceX won the contract of sending this spacecraft. This spacecraft is expected to be launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4.
Target Asteroid
The target is a binary asteroid called Asteroid 65803 Didymos. In case you're wondering what is a binary asteroid? It is two asteroids orbiting around a common barycentre.
This asteroid has a moon called Dimorphous. This moon is where our spacecraft will impact.
The goal is to send this moon out of orbit, if that happens the demonstration will be a success. This asteroid will be the size of the Washington monument.
Propulsion and Power
The spacecraft will be using a next-generation NEXT-C xenon thruster. This is one of the most advanced ion thrusters available.
The power for this ion thruster comes from ROSA (Roll-Out Solar Arrays). These solar arrays will be 8.6 meters long.
Conclusion
The Earth does have a very small chance of getting hit by an asteroid, but it's very unlikely.
NASA also does a thorough job before they even consider this option. So, it's just a matter of time before a big asteroid strikes Earth.
What happens when an asteroid hits the Earth is something that no one knows. The dinosaurs got extinct because they couldn't destroy the asteroid that killed them.
Right now, we have a shot at redirecting the asteroid, which makes planetary defense more important. This mission will be the pioneer of planetary defense.
Do tell us in the comments what you think about this mission.
Read more: How can you become an astronaut?
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