THE DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

1

What is DART?

The aim of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is to slam into an asteroid and assess the effect on that object.

2

First impact

Testing the potential for planetary defence, DART will be the first time humanity has slammed an object in space with a kinetic impactor.

3

The target

DART’s target will be the double asteroid Didymos, comprised of a 780metre (2,550-foot) primary object and a 160-metre (525foot) ‘moonlet’.

4

Why Didymos?

Didymos has been selected for the DART mission because of its similarity to the asteroids that tend to threaten an impact with Earth. 5 Dart mission launch DART launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in November 2021. It will intercept Didymos in September 2022.