There is no moon. There is a moonlet.
The first image of its target, the moonlet Dimorphos, was beamed back by the Double Asteroid Redirection Test. The DART mission is designed to change the trajectory of the moonlet. If the design is successful, it could be scaled up to protect the planet from asteroids. The Didymos and Dimorphos are not a threat to Earth.
DART's sole instrument, the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation (DRACO), took the picture on July 27. It shows Dimorphos and Didymos as a single point of light, since they were so far away from the asteroids.
The DART asteroid- impact mission is explained in pictures.
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The DART mission systems engineer Elena Adams said in a statement that the first set of images is being used as a test. The quality of the image is similar to what we could get from a ground-based telescope, but it is important to show that DRACO is working properly and can see its target to make any adjustments needed before we begin using the images to guide the spacecraft into the asteroid.
DRACO will be used by DART to navigate to its impact site. Humans are in control. DART will be put on a precise path to Didymos over the next three weeks using a series of three trajectory correction maneuvers. Within about 24 hours of impact, DART will take control.
"Seeing the DRACO images of Didymos for the first time, we can iron out the best settings for DRACO and fine- tune the software," said Julie Bellerose, the DART navigation lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We will get a more precise determination of Didymos' location in September.
DRACO has checked in on Didymos three times since the images were captured.
On September 26th, DART will impact Dimorphos. You can watch the event at Space.com or through NASA TV.
It was originally published on Space.com
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