NASA Tries to Pinpoint Docking-Mission Failure

NASA said Monday that a guidance error may have caused its DART spacecraft to abort its mission this month before it could attempt an automatic docking maneuver. The Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology spacecraft was launched on April 15 and came within 300 feet of the target satellite before placing itself in “retirement phase” due to low fuel levels, ending the mission.

Engineers investigating the mishap concluded that the guidance error may have caused the craft to expend too much fuel, said Kim Newton, a spokeswoman for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. DART struck the target satellite shortly after shutting down, she said.