HERA
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.
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
July 27, 2022
DART Spacecraft gets First Look at Didymos
September 11, 2022
LICIACube Deployed Successfully
September 26, 2022
DART Impact Successful
DART Highlights @RedwireSpace
Impact confirmed!
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) September 26, 2022
The #DARTMission spacecraft has crashed into asteroid moonlet Dimorphos! Congratulations to @NASA, @JHUAPL and all of our partners involved in this historic mission! https://t.co/g6YeTks2BB
📢 INTRODUCING: THE PLANETARY DEFENDERS GAME!
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) September 22, 2022
Soar through the solar system + navigate space debris in this retro-inspired game, where you become the #DARTMission spacecrafts! Watch Redwire's German Acosta Quiros as he plays + explains the game.
🕹️ Play: https://t.co/0PP56dkSKm pic.twitter.com/sgKrjNHFJK
The #DARTMission will be powered by two roll-out solar arrays (ROSA).
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) November 20, 2021
The arrays are:
📏 28ft long each
🔋 6.5kw of power combined
These arrays will power the spacecraft on its mission to asteroid Didymos + moonlet Dimorphos, where it will crash to adjust the asteroid's orbit. pic.twitter.com/zH7c3N1rJN
🚀We have liftoff!
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) November 24, 2021
Congratulations to @NASA, @AsteroidWatch, @JHUAPL, @SpaceX + the entire DART team on a successful launch! Go #DARTMission, go Falcon! https://t.co/7O8avO2Met
It's the final cosmic collision countdown. ☄️⌛
— Johns Hopkins APL (@JHUAPL) September 26, 2022
Today the #DARTMission will make history when it becomes world’s first full-scale #PlanetaryDefense test.
📺 Live coverage at 6 p.m. EDT
💥 Impact at 7:14 p.m. EDT
🔗 https://t.co/0YPTJKV2Rl@AsteroidWatch @NASASolarSystem pic.twitter.com/XdE4lZ3TH2
The goal of the #DARTMission is to test technologies that'll enable future #PlanetaryDefense missions + protect Earth from a dangerous asteroid impact.
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) September 25, 2022
Redwire's navigation + power-generation capabilities enable DART to accomplish its mission. #NASASocial https://t.co/fkpEQy5cms pic.twitter.com/ns1oDzd0i3
Our Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA) provide a strong, lightweight, compact, modular, high performance solar array solution for any space mission.
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) September 24, 2022
Hear how they're supporting the #DARTMission from Redwire's Pete Barker in this video or learn more about ROSA: https://t.co/0FdcJCfJWo pic.twitter.com/azXBD76phy
Say hello to our #DARTMission patch!
— Redwire Space (@RedwireSpace) November 19, 2021
Planetary defense against asteroids has inspired video games for generations. We brought in nostalgia with this mission patch, inspired by retro asteroid games 👾 while highlighting our tech that supports this historic mission. pic.twitter.com/XLtQ1IvziE
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