DART
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: Manufacturer Image
American rendezvous technology satellite. Autonomous Rendezvous Technology mission, planned to guide itself to within a few meters of a US satellite. Technology, automatic rendezvous satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) for NASA, USA. Launched 2005. Used the HAPS stage bus.
More at: DART.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Engines
- MR-107
- Launch Vehicles
- Pegasus, Pegasus XL/HAPS
- Launch Sites
- Point Arguello WADZ
Chronology
1 event
2005 April 15
17:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Complex: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Pad: Aircraft from Vandenberg.. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL/HAPS.- DART - .
Mass: 360 kg (790 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NASA.
Manufacturer: OSC.
Class: Technology.
Type: Rendezvous technology satellite. Spacecraft: DART.
Decay Date: 2016-05-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 28642 . COSPAR: 2005-014A. Apogee: 747 km (464 mi). Perigee: 395 km (245 mi). Inclination: 96.60 deg. Period: 96.10 min.
Delayed from April 15; October 18, 19, 26, 28; Nov. 4, 9 and 11; 2004, and March 2, 2005. Autonomous Rendezvous Technology mission, planned to guide itself to within a few metres of a US satellite. On April 16, DART closed within 100 m of the MUBLCOM satellite, then evidently began a series of out-of-control maneuvers resulting in an in-space collission and MUBLCOM being bumped into a 3 to 5 km higher orbit. Remarkably both satellites continued to function. DART then detected that it was running unexpectedly low on nitrogen cold gas used for orientation. Its autonomous software aborted further rendezvous operations and the DART was deorbited shortly thereafter. Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ.