The image was taken on July 27th and reveals Didymos as a far-off speck of light versus the background stars of area. The image is a composite of 243 images taken by the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical (Draco) when the spacecraft was about 32 million km (20 million mi) from the asteroid. At this distance, the navigation electronic camera team was unsure if DRACO would be able to fix the asteroid system. Fortunately, the DRACO group enhanced the resolution of the combined image that determined Didymos area.
NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) objective is on its method to rendezvous with the double-asteroid Didymos. When it gets here on September 26th, DART will hit Dimorphos– the 160-meter (525-foot) moonlet that orbits the main body– to assess the kinetic effect technique for the very first time. This proposed method of planetary defense includes a spacecraft clashing with an asteroid to change its orbit and prevent it from colliding with Earth. In July, DART took its very first picture of the double-asteroid, which NASA launched previously this week!
Artists impression of the DART objective approaching the double-asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos. Credit: NASA
This image successfully demonstrates the capabilities of DRACO and its ability to image far-off objects, which is vital for the planned rendezvous with the double-asteroid. Elena Adams, the DART objective systems engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), discussed in a current NASA news release:
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NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) objective is on its way to rendezvous with the double-asteroid Didymos. When it gets here on September 26th, DART will clash with Dimorphos– the 160-meter (525-foot) moonlet that orbits the main body– to assess the kinetic impact method for the really first time. In July, DART took its very first image of the double-asteroid, which NASA released earlier this week!
Artists impression of NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft speeding toward the smaller sized of the 2 bodies in the Didymos asteroid system. Credit: NASA/JHUAPL
Over the next 3 weeks, the DART group will carry out observations with DRACO every five hours to carry out restorative maneuvers. From that point onward, DART will have to rely on its autonomous system to direct itself and collide with Dimorphos.
The European Space Agency (ESA) prepares to install a follow-up mission, the Hera spacecraft, that will launch in September 2024. When it rendezvous with the double-asteroid system in December 2026, the probe will take a look at the after-effects of the impact test by measuring the orbit of Dimorphos for any discernible modifications. If the kinetic impact method can deflect asteroids and is an effective means of safeguarding Earth from potentially harmful asteroids (PHAs), this will confirm.
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With the asteroid system now in view, DART will need to rely on DRACOs ability to see and process images of the double-asteroid. From that point onward, DART will have to rely on its self-governing system to direct itself and clash with Dimorphos.
” This very first set of images is being utilized as a test to show our imaging techniques. The quality of the image resembles what we could acquire from ground-based telescopes, but it is essential to show that DRACO is working appropriately and can see its target to make any modifications required prior to we begin using the images to guide the spacecraft into the asteroid autonomously.”
With the asteroid system now in view, DART will require to rely on DRACOs capability to see and process images of the double-asteroid. This will be particularly important throughout the last hours prior to DART affects Dimorphos.
” Seeing the DRACO images of Didymos for the very first time, we can settle the very best settings for DRACO and tweak the software application,” said Julie Bellerose, the DART navigation lead at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “In September, well fine-tune where DART is intending by getting a more precise decision of Didymos place.”