As it approached the asteroid, the DART spacecraft streamed these images from its DRACO video camera back to Earth in real time. The last total image of asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, taken by the DRACO imager on NASAs DART mission from around 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the asteroid and 2 seconds before impact. The spacecrafts onboard DRACO imager took this last image approximately 4 miles (~ 6 kilometers) from the asteroid and just 1 2nd before impact. The image reveals a spot of the asteroid that is 51 feet 16 meters) across. On July 27, the spacecraft utilized its Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation (DRACO) to obtain its very first image of Didymos, the double-asteroid system that includes its target, Dimorphos.
The final images leading up to the DART spacecrafts intentional collision with asteroid Dimorphos. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) successfully affected its asteroid target Dimorphos on Monday, September 26, 2022, after 10 months of flying through area. It was the worlds very first planetary defense technology presentation and NASAs very first attempt to move an asteroid in area. The 1,260-pound (570-kilogram) spacecraft was flying at a speed of about 14,000 miles (22,530 kilometers) per hour at the time of effect.
Throughout the spacecrafts last moments before impact and obliteration, its Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation (DRACO) imager took four images catching its terminal method as its asteroid target Dimorphos increasingly filled the field of vision.
This video reveals the final five-and-a-half minutes of images leading up to the DART spacecrafts deliberate accident with asteroid Dimorphos. As it approached the asteroid, the DART spacecraft streamed these images from its DRACO electronic camera back to Earth in genuine time. This replay movie is 10 times faster than truth, except for the last six images, which are shown at the very same rate that the spacecraft returned them. Both Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos are visible at the start of the video. At the end, Dimorphos fills the entire field of vision. The final image in the film shows a patch of Dimorphos that is 51 feet (16 meters) across. DARTs impact happened during the transmission of the final image to Earth, resulting in a partial picture at the end of this movie. Didymos is approximately 2,500 feet (780 meters) in size; Dimorphos has to do with 525 feet (160 meters) in length. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
Asteroid Didymos (leading left) and its moonlet, Dimorphos, about 2.5 minutes prior to the impact of NASAs DART spacecraft. The image was taken by the onboard DRACO imager from a distance of 570 miles (920 kilometers). This image was the last to contain a total view of both asteroids. Didymos is approximately 2,500 feet (780 meters) in diameter; Dimorphos is about 525 feet (160 meters) in length. Didymos and Dimorphos north is towards the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
DARTs onboard DRACO imager captured this image from a range of 42 miles (68 kilometers). This image was the last to consist of all of Dimorphos in the field of view. Dimorphos north is towards the top of the image.
The last complete image of asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, taken by the DRACO imager on NASAs DART mission from around 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the asteroid and 2 seconds prior to impact. The image reveals a patch of the asteroid that is 100 feet (31 meters) throughout. Dimorphos north is towards the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
DARTs last take a look at the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos prior to impact. The spacecrafts onboard DRACO imager took this last image roughly 4 miles (~ 6 kilometers) from the asteroid and only 1 2nd before impact. DARTs effect occurred throughout transmission of the image to Earth, leading to a partial picture. The image reveals a patch of the asteroid that is 51 feet 16 meters) throughout. Dimorphos north is toward the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
Just two weeks after launch, the spacecraft has actually opened its “eye” and returned its first images from area. On July 27, the spacecraft utilized its Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation (DRACO) to get its very first image of Didymos, the double-asteroid system that includes its target, Dimorphos.