UPSC Exams
Latest Update
Coaching
UPSC Current Affairs
Syllabus
UPSC Notes
Previous Year Papers
Mock Tests
UPSC Editorial
Bilateral Ties
Books
Government Schemes
Topics
NASA Space Missions
ISRO Space Missions
What is the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Mission & Defense Strategy
IMPORTANT LINKS
Syllabus |
|
Prelims |
Science and Technology: |
Mains |
Space & Technology, Earth Science. India and International Space Missions, NASA, ISRO, ISPA |
Subjects | PDF Link |
---|---|
Download Free Ancient History Notes PDF Created by UPSC Experts | Download Link |
Grab the Free Economy Notes PDF used by UPSC Aspirants | Download Link |
Get your hands on the most trusted Free UPSC Environmental Notes PDF | Download Link |
Exclusive Free Indian Geography PDF crafted by top mentors | Download Link |
UPSC Toppers’ trusted notes, Now FREE for you. Download the Polity Notes PDF today! | Download Link |
Thousands of UPSC aspirants are already using our FREE UPSC notes. Get World Geography Notes PDF Here | Download Link |
What are Boulders?
A boulder is a large rock fragment with a diameter greater than 25.6 cm (10.1 inches). These rocks can be composed of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic materials, depending on the geological conditions where they formed.
Download the DART Mission UPSC Notes PDF
What is an Asteroid?
An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun, formed as remnants of the solar system’s creation over 4.6 billion years ago. Most asteroids are located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA's DART spacecraft was launched to test asteroid deflection, targeting the asteroid Dimorphos in a historic planetary defence mission.
What is Planetary Defence?
Our solar system comprises numerous celestial bodies, including small particles and big rocky objects. When these objects hit the Earth they may cause a lot of damage.
To avoid these threats, planetary defence is the joint effort of scientists all around the world to detect, track and prevent possible impacts of asteroids or comets. The cooperation makes sure that hazardous space objects are detected and acted upon early enough before they become dangerous.
A significant planetary defence effort is the DART NASA Mission, a mission aimed to test asteroid deflection and bolster the planetary defence efforts against Earth.
What is the DART Mission?
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a low-cost spacecraft designed to test asteroid deflection. It features two solar arrays and uses hydrazine propellant for maneuvering.
Additionally, DART carries 10 kg of xenon to demonstrate NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster–Commercial (NEXT-C), an advanced ion propulsion system optimized for deep-space robotic missions.
The DART asteroid spacecraft is equipped with Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical Navigation (DRACO), a high-resolution imager that will transmit real-time images of Dimorphos, the target asteroid.
DART also carries a CubeSat named LICIACube (Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids), which will document the impact and crater formation resulting from the collision.
Objectives of DART
- Demonstrate kinetic impact with Dimorphos.
- Alter Dimorphos' orbital period around Didymos.
- Use ground-based telescopes to measure changes.
- Analyze the impact effects and resulting debris.
DART Spacecraft Details
- A low-cost spacecraft with solar arrays (8.5 meters long).
- Navigates to crash into Dimorphos at 6.1 km/sec.
- Mass at launch: 610 kg; impact mass: 570 kg.
- Powered by hydrazine & xenon propulsion systems.
- Equipped with DRACO, a high-resolution camera for navigation.
- Includes LICIACube, an Italian CubeSat to capture impact images.
Planetary Defence & Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)
- Planetary defence helps detect, warn, and mitigate asteroid threats.
- NEOs are asteroids/comets that pass within 50 million km of Earth's orbit.
- DART tests asteroid deflection, supporting NASA’s broader defence strategy.
DART Impact & Observations
- DART successfully crashed into Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022.
- Webb & Hubble Telescopes observed the impact in different wavelengths.
- Data helps scientists analyze debris, surface changes, & orbit shifts.
- Observations assist in refining asteroid deflection strategies.
Conclusion
The DART Mission is a groundbreaking test of asteroid deflection, showcasing kinetic impact technology for planetary defence. By altering Dimorphos' orbit, DART provides critical insights into protecting Earth from potential asteroid threats. Its success marks a significant step toward future strategies in space security and impact prevention.
FAQ's on DART Mission
What is the DART Mission?
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is NASA’s first mission to test asteroid deflection using kinetic impact technology.
What was the goal of DART?
DART aimed to alter the orbit of Dimorphos, a small asteroid, by crashing into it, demonstrating a method for planetary defence.
When was DART launched, and when did it impact Dimorphos?
DART was launched on November 24, 2021, and successfully impacted Dimorphos on September 26, 2022.
How fast did DART hit Dimorphos?
DART collided with Dimorphos at a speed of 6.1 km/sec (3.8 miles/sec).
What was the result of the impact?
The impact shortened Dimorphos' orbital period around Didymos by 33 minutes, proving that asteroid deflection is possible.
What instruments did DART carry?
DART was equipped with DRACO, a high-resolution camera for navigation, and LICIACube, a CubeSat that captured images of the impact.
Why was Dimorphos chosen as the target?
Dimorphos was selected because its binary system with Didymos allowed scientists to easily measure orbital changes.