HERA

RETURN OF THE PLANETARY DEFENDERS!

Mission Overview

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, the world’s first planetary defense test mission, launched on November 24, 2021. With Redwire’s Roll-Out Solar Array and digital sun sensors onboard, DART made history when it successfully impacted the moonlet of binary asteroid Didymos in September of 2022 to adjust its speed and trajectory.

As a follow-up to DART, The European Space Agency’s Hera Mission is performing the most detailed exploration yet of a binary asteroid system by conducting a detailed post-impact survey of the target asteroid, Dimorphos – the orbiting moonlet of Didymos. The primary Hera spacecraft and its two companion cubesats will analyze the aftermath of DART’s impact and determine if the spacecraft changed the asteroid’s trajectory. Hera’s detailed investigations will substantially enhance the planetary defense knowledge gained from DART. Together, DART and Hera will demonstrate critical technology that could one day be used to protect Earth from a dangerous asteroid or comet, setting the stage for future planetary defense missions.

Mission Information

Media Coverage

Redwire Technology

The onboard computer is part of Redwire’s third generation Advanced Data and Power Management System (ADPMS-3), is the “brain” of the spacecraft and designed to monitor and control other components, including transmitting critical data to operators on the ground.

Mission Milestones

November 24, 2021

DART Spacecraft Launches

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft launches on a Falcon 9 rocket at 1:21 am EST.

November 24, 2021

Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) Wings Deploy

DART’s Roll-Out Solar Arrays deploy, ready to supply power to the spacecraft for the duration of the mission.

July 2022

Orbit of Target Asteroid Confirmed

The DART team completes observation campaign to confirm the orbit of Dimorphos around Didymos, confirming where the asteroid is expected to be located at the time of impact.

July 27, 2022

DART Spacecraft gets First Look at Didymos

Using its DRACO camera, DART gets firs images of Didymos and DART team is able to pinpoint asteroid’s location.

September 11, 2022

LICIACube Deployed Successfully

LICIACube will document the effects of DART’s impact on Sept. 26.

September 26, 2022

DART Impact Successful

DART mission successfully impacts its target asteroid, Dimorphos. This is NASA’s first attempt to move an asteroid in space.

DART Highlights @RedwireSpace

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