SPACEX FALCON 9 SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH FROM VANDENBERG TUESDAY

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  • Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs

Team Vandenberg is supporting a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying NASA’s first planetary defense test mission, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) from Space Launch Complex-4 here Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 10:20 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Col. Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, will be the launch decision authority.

“Space Launch Delta 30 is excited to partner with NASA and SpaceX on the first planetary defense test mission,” said Long.  “Everyone involved has been working tirelessly to ensure this launch is safe and successful.  I’m proud of their efforts.”

The spacecraft is designed to direct itself to impact an asteroid while traveling at a speed of roughly 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kilometers per hour). Its target is the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos (Greek for “two forms”), which orbits a larger asteroid named Didymos (Greek for “twin”). In fall 2022, DART is projected to impact Dimorphos to change its orbit within the Didymos binary asteroid system. The Didymos system is the ideal candidate for DART because it poses no actual impact threat to Earth, and scientists can measure the change in Dimorphos’ orbit with ground-based telescopes.

For questions regarding the launch window or Vandenberg VSFB range operations, contact Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs at 805-606-3595 or 30sw.pa.workflow@us.af.mil.

For queries regarding the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, contact the SpaceX Communication Lead at media@spacex.com.

The Hawks Nest will be closed to the public for a private event.