Space Station Science Ops News: Breaking news and background information on Space Station experiments and payload operations Gravity Probe B News: the Gravity Probe B experiment will test unverified portions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity Chandra X-ray Telescope News: The most current discoveries from the world's most powerful X-ray telescope National Space Science and Technology Center News: A partnership between NASA, universities, industry and other federal agencies to further future research endeavors Diversity News: Information on how Marshall is advancing the opportunities for many diversified groups NASA Hurricane Photos: A current gallery of NASA hurricane photos and animations; a continuing feature from NASA's CAMEX-4 hurricane study Starship 2040 News: NASA’s vision for the future of commercial spaceflight Marshall Traveling Exhibits News: Information on the Marshall Center's traveling exhibits and how to request a visit to your area DART News: Developed by Orbital Sciences, Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) will flight demonstrate in-orbit autonomous rendezvous and close proximity operations.
This
map shows where the International Space Station is at this moment. Track
its orbit with Marshall's
J-Track!
DART
VEHICLE
PRESS
KIT
The
Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) is a flight demonstrator
that provides a key step in establishing autonomous rendezvous capabilities
for the U.S. space program and its Vision for Space Exploration. While
previous rendezvous and docking efforts have been piloted by astronauts,
the unmanned DART spacecraft will have only computers and sensors to perform
all of its rendezvous functions. Future applications of technologies developed
by the DART project will benefit the nation in future space systems development
requiring in-space assembly, services, or other autonomous rendezvous
operations.
read more
Downloadable images from press kit:
Figure 1: DART Vehicle Configuration, 8 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 2: DART assembly and component diagram, 174 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 3: MUBLCOM Satellite Configuration, 9 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 4: MUBLCOM AVGS Target Reflector Locations, 21 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 5: MUBLCOM Orbit Ground Track, 194 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 6: Pegasus XL Launch Operations for DART Mission, 47 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 7: DART Phasing Orbits, 84 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 8: DART Proximity Operations, 24 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 9: DART Mission Ground Station Access, 184 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 10: DART Mission Timeline Summary, 247 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 11: DART Mission Timeline-Proximity Operations, 319 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 12: Pegasus XL Launch Ground Track, 75 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 13: Retirement Orbit Lifetime Contours (Years), 76 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
Figure 14: Retirement Orbit Lifetime Sensitivity to Area-to-Mass Ratio, 72 KB (Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation)
FEATURED PHOTO
Hurricane Jeanne
09/30/04 - NASA Spacecraft Moves One Step Closer to Fall Launch
07/16/03 - Autonomous rendezvous spacecraft arrives at Vandenberg
![Photo description: Artist concept of Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology [DART]](/NEWSROOM/dart/images/dart1b_t.jpg){kind=small}
