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So I remember reading that there was a 10% chance DART will not hit Didymoon. It was on the German Wikipedia, but without a source.

Now, I'm wondering if there would have been any plans if DART failed to hit the asteroid. I can imagine this being a very big problem because DART's propellant might not have been enough + the limited lifetime of LiciaCube.

Looking forward to your insights!

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    $\begingroup$What do you mean by "propellant might not have been enough"? Not hitting an asteroid doesn't need any propellant.$\endgroup$
    – asdfex
    CommentedOct 3, 2022 at 11:26
  • $\begingroup$Well, nothing would have happened$\endgroup$
    – Topcode
    CommentedOct 3, 2022 at 15:36
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    $\begingroup$Isn't the target Dimorphos?$\endgroup$
    – Oscar Lanzi
    CommentedOct 4, 2022 at 1:59
  • $\begingroup$@OscarLanzi Didymoon is a widely used informal name for Dimorphos.$\endgroup$
    – David Hammen
    CommentedOct 4, 2022 at 5:44
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    $\begingroup$There have been many failed space missions. The answer to the question is simple: DART would have become yet another one of those failed space missions had it failed to hit Dimorphos. The vehicle had enough propellant for one attempt, and that's it.$\endgroup$
    – David Hammen
    CommentedOct 4, 2022 at 5:49

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