DART is the first mission in the world to test technologythat could protect Earth from potential threats like asteroids or comets. NASA will hold a live briefing on September 26 at 6 p.m. EDT from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.
APL designed, constructed, and manages NASA's DART mission.
By crashing on purpose into an asteroid, the test spacecraft will show that it can find a specific asteroid on its own and change the speed of the asteroid in a way that can be seen by telescopes on Earth.
If an asteroid ever threatens to hit Earth, DART will give us important information that will help us get ready better.
Below is a schedule of events leading up to DART's collision with the asteroid Dimorphos (all times Eastern):
9 a.m. – At APL, NASA will host a mixed-format media day dedicated to the technology behind the DART spacecraft's ability to autonomously navigate to and impact its target asteroid.
Administrators from NASA and the DART team are taking part. The DART mission operations center at APL can be viewed by in-person visitors at 11100 Johns Hopkins Road in Laurel, Maryland.
If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, please respond to this invitation by filling out the form on NASA’s websiteby 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30. NASA’s media accreditation policy for on-site and virtual activities is available online.
3 p.m. – Meeting with the press at NASA Headquarters to discuss the final steps for DART before its collision with Dimorphous.
Senior leaders from NASA and APL will hold a media briefing at NASA Headquarters in the Mary W. Jackson Building on 300 E. Street, SW in Washington.
Anyone from the media who wants to attend must fill out the form on NASA's websiteby 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 15. 6 p.m. – The impact of DART with the asteroid Dimorphos will be shown live on NASA TV and the organization's website.
The agency's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels will also stream the event live for the public.
7:14 p.m. – The kinetic collision of Dimorphos with DART.
On Monday, September 26, remote live and recorded interviews will be available through Zoom from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
By 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, the press must complete the form on NASA's website to reserve a live shot window.
A number of panels involving NASA and APL mission specialists will be held on Monday, September 26.
By completing the forms, you will be eligible for interviews both before and after the asteroid impact that will affect DART.
Stay connected with the DART mission and share your observations watching DART's impact with an asteroid on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with #DARTMission and #PlanetaryDefender.
Follow and tag these accounts:
Twitter: @NASA, @NASASolarSystem, @AsteroidWatch, @JHUAPL
Facebook: NASA, NASA Solar System Exploration, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Instagram: @NASA, @NASASolarSystem, @JohnsHopkinsAPL
Become a "Planetary Defender" to aid the DART mission! After passing a brief test, participants will receive a badge and certificate that they can download, print, and post on social media.
For more information about the DART mission, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/dartmission