Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART)

An air-launched Pegasus XL carried the DART (Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology) spacecraft, meant to test automated rendezvous with the retired MUBLCOM satellite; DART instead collided with its target during erratic close-approach maneuvers.

Outcome

Success

Payload to orbit

350 kg

Flight

21st

of 31 Pegasus XL flights

Date and time

15 April 2005, 17:26 UTC

Rocket

Pegasus XL

Builder

OSC

Launch site

Vandenberg Space Force Base, Air launch to orbit

Payload

Unknown

International designator

2005-014

Launches in 2005

14th of 56

See it in orbit

Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.

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