NASA withholds Dart mission report, page 1

NASA plans to release a summary of why the DART spacecraft did not complete its mission last year, but the full 70-page document contains details protected by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, space agency spokesman Michael Braukus said.

The technology used to aquire and maneuver around the target satellite must apply to the techniques used to kill satellites by the military. Some of the equipment and expertise would undoubtedly be of military origin.

Here is the relevant portion of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations :

Category XI--Military [and Space] Electronics

(7) Any experimental or developmental electronic equipment specifically
designed or modified for military application or specifically designed or
modified for use with a military system.

*(b) Electronic systems or equipment specifically designed, modified, or
configured for intelligence, security, or military purposes for use in
search, reconnaissance, collection, monitoring, direction-finding,
display, analysis and production of information from the electromagnetic
spectrum and electronic systems or equipment designed or modified to
counteract electronic surveillance or monitoring. A system meeting this
definition is controlled under this subchapter even in instances where any
individual pieces of equipment constituting the system may be subject to
the controls of another U.S. Government agency.

[edit on 4/15/2006 by eaglewingz]