DAWN mission to orbit 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta.

3488 · Sep 8, 2007

Thank you very much MeteorWayne. Lets hope she actually launches this time. It is good news to see that the prelaunch preparations are going well. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 12, 2007

09.11.07 Dwayne Brown NASA Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov George Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov DC Agle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-9011 david.c.agle@jpl.nasa.gov RELEASE: 2007-099 DAWN ONE STEP AWAY FROM ASTEROID BELT TRIP The Dawn spacecraft completed the 25-kilometer (15-mile) journey from Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., to Pad-17B of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:10 a.m. EDT today. The launch period for Dawn, NASA's eight-year, more than 5-billion-kilometer (3.2-billion-mile) odyssey into the heart of the asteroid belt, opens Sept. 26. "From here, the only way to go is up," said Dawn project manager Keyur Patel of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "We are looking forward to putting some space between Dawn and Mother Earth and making some space history." Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch 4.5 billion years ago by investigating in detail the massive asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. They reside between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt. Scientists theorize these were budding planets never given the opportunity to grow. However, Ceres and Vesta each followed a very different evolutionary path during the solar system's first few million years. By investigating two diverse asteroids during the spacecraft's eight-year flight, the Dawn mission aims to unlock some of the mysteries of planetary formation. Dawn will be the first spacecraft to orbit an object in the asteroid belt and the first to orbit two bodies after lea <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 12, 2007

Also, from spaceflightnow mission status page "The Delta 2-Heavy to launch Dawn is a three-stage rocket, with a kerosene-fueled first stage, nine strap-on solid boosters, a hydrazine second stage and solid-fuel third stage. The 12-story vehicle is the most powerful version of the venerable Delta 2 family, owing its extra thrust to slightly larger strap-on boosters. The Heavy has flown three times, successfully lofting the Mars rover Opportunity, Spitzer Space Telescope and the MESSENGER orbiter now en route to Mercury. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 12, 2007

Also from spaceflightnow thorough description of the spacecraft <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Sep 13, 2007

Thank you very much MeteorWayne. A rather nice article here from Spaceflightnow.com. I just hope that DAWN launches OK on time. After the stunning launch of Mars Phoenix Lander I do not feel quite so worried about this one. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Sep 13, 2007

Waiting launch too with impatience... Does anybody know whether the mission timeline can be accelerated if the propulsion proves a little bit more efficient than the average considered? The trajectory is indeed highly tangential to Vesta orbit, then to Ceres orbit...

rybanis · Sep 13, 2007

I'm really looking forward to this mission! I'm so glad to finally see it getting off the ground. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 13, 2007

No, a good deal of planning went into creating a mission to orbit and visit two asteroids in one mission. No significant changes will be made, or the mission will not be accomplished. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rybanis · Sep 14, 2007

09.14.07 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 George.H.Diller@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-091407 EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT Mission: Dawn Location: Launch Pad 17-B Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925-H Launch Date: Sept. 26, 2007 Launch Window: 7:25 - 7:54 a.m. EDT On Tuesday, the Dawn spacecraft arrived at Pad 17-B at 5:10 a.m. after an overnight rollout from the Astrotech payload processing facility. At 8:01 a.m., Dawn was officially declared secure atop the Delta II rocket. Technicians successfully conducted spacecraft state-of-health checks on Wednesday. The launch team completed the flight program verification on Thursday without issues. This integrated launch readiness electrical test ensures the Dawn spacecraft and Delta II rocket are working together in unison. Installation of the payload fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled for Sept. 19. Previous status reports are available on the Web at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2007 -end- <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 15, 2007

Press conference announcement: 09.14.07 Dwayne Brown NASA Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov George Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov DC Agle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-9011 david.c.agle@jpl.nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: 47-07 DAWN LAUNCHING ON DELTA II SEPT. 26 TO EXPLORE PLANETARY MYSTERIES CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Launch of NASA's Dawn spacecraft is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 26, from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch window is 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. EDT. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center is responsible for the launch of Dawn aboard a Delta II rocket. United Launch Alliance is conducting the launch service for NASA. Should the launch be postponed 24 hours for any reason, the launch window will extend from 7:20 to 7:49 a.m. EDT. For a 48-hour postponement, the launch window will be from 7:14 to 7:43 a.m. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch 4.5 billion years ago by investigating in detail two of the largest asteroids, Ceres and Vesta. They reside between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt. Scientists theorize these were budding planets never given the opportunity to grow. However, Ceres and Vesta each followed a very different evolutionary path during the solar system's first few million years. By investigating two diverse asteroids during the spacecraft's eight-year flight, the Dawn mission aims to unlock some of the mysteries of planetary formation. Dawn will be the first spacecraft to orbit an object in the asteroid belt and the first to <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

h2ouniverse · Sep 16, 2007

MW, Having participated to (closer!) missions, I could experience that we size the mission with guaranteed performance of thrusters (average acceptance test values minus dispersion). Then adjust during flight once the actual performance is determined, so as to make best use of the bonus, usually more lifetime. I have noted that due to (or thanks to) the plasmic propulsion, the coasting of Vesta, then Ceres orbit is quite long and very much tangential. Seems to me that a bonus of thrust should enable shortening the Vesta-to-Ceres cruise (and so reduce a little bit mission costs), of course, once the bonus is evidenced. But OK, let's see. Regards.

3488 · Sep 17, 2007

Thank you very much for your update MeteorWayne. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Very welcome as always. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> It is great news to see that the preparations for the launch are going very well. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Thank you very much again. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 17, 2007

Yes I'm very excited about this. All other missions have been to "planets" until New Horizons (which started out to a planet) and is to examine some of the smaller chucks of the outer solar system. With a few to comets to sample the volitile rubble. Now a mission to the largest members of the asteroid belt. Finally, we are filling out the family tree of our local environment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bobblebob · Sep 17, 2007

I will be at work during the launch, but hoping to watch it if i can get the nasatv stream working where i work <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

bobblebob · Sep 17, 2007

Has a specific time for launch been decided yet? All i can find in the emails ive received and the nasa website is the launch window, but no specific time

MeteorWayne · Sep 17, 2007

If there are no problems, they usually aim for the center of the launch window, or thereabouts. They may refine the time a bit more as launch time gets closer. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 17, 2007

BTW, it's rather odd that spaceflightnow uses the obsolete term GMT on their website. The correct term now is UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) or UT for short. MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

bpcooper · Sep 17, 2007

They generally only aim for the center of the launch window on the shuttle missions to the ISS for performance reasons. Dawn's launch window is 7:25 to 7:54am EDT Sept. 26 with the times getting earlier several minutes each day. They will target the opening of the window. One thing they are doing differently for Dawn is that they have rounded off all of Dawn's launch times to the nearest minute rather than deal with precise seconds. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -Ben </div>

MeteorWayne · Sep 17, 2007

Thanks for clarifying that. I assumed that, while the performance issues are nowhere near as large, they still might use the same philosophy. So instead they aim for the start, and have the remainder of the window if it cannot launch then. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

rybanis · Sep 17, 2007

Ungh, right in the middle of the night for us west-coasters. Perhaps I'll get up if I have the day off... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

h2ouniverse · Sep 17, 2007

MW, In reply to: "All other missions have been to "planets" until New Horizons (which started out to a planet) ..." -------------------------------- The funny thing is that Dawn started out to an asteroid, and ends up to a [dwarf] planet... Destinies are crossing over! Speaking more Ceresly, it's good to see interest in Ceres on the rise these times. Best regards.

3488 · Sep 17, 2007

Hi Joel, i know that MeteorWayne will agree with me (we seldom disagree anyway), that it is high time that 1 Ceres has been visited. Lets hope that all goes well on the 26th. Asteroid 253 Mathilde, remains the largest one that we have seen up close, with 243 Ida a close second (about 50 - 60 KM across ball park figures), so getting to see a couple of real biggies up close, maybe even a third if all goes to plan, is a real thrill. The science, along with the images, etc will be astounding. DAWN is a beautiful spacecraft. Assuming a successful launch (which IMO after the Phoenix liftoff), I think chances of success are very high. I think 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta will not disappoint. Mind you NEAR / Shoemaker did not go to a planet, asteroids 253 Mathilde & 433 Eros. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Sep 17, 2007

Hi Andrew, Also MW forgot Giotto and Hayabusa... To me, without yelling with the herd, Ceres seems to deserve its upgrading. It's not because of the dwarfplanethood, for a spherical shape is of little interest in itself. It deserves interest as much as a full-fledged planet for me because: * it is apparently differentiated * it had for sure and probably still has an active geology and chemistry. * with bio-potential (liquid water in the past, and may be still today - let's see) I am sure we will have one day a Ceres Sample Return. Best regards.

3488 · Sep 17, 2007

Hi Joel, IMO 1 Ceres IS differentiated. 1 Ceres is slightly oblate, & if most of the mass is concentrated in a core, than the oblateness could occur at a slower rotation rate. With 1 Ceres that is known to be about 9 hours & 4 minutes, with an average density of approx 2.09 (a large rocky core with a 120 KM deep ice shell). I expect there to be large cliffs (similar to those on Miranda) & compressional hills, as the dwarf planet cooled & the ice froze. No doubt many impact craters will be present. Perhaps this object is still active.I think if there is liquid water, I suspect it will be at the base of the ice mantle on the mantle / core boundary. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Sep 17, 2007

Andrew, There have been also suggestions that the slight variations in surface albedo and colour could be due to chemical alteration of iron-rich clays... by water. To me what singles Ceres out when defining a mission is that it is the closest alien place with water ice at the surface (or very close to the surface), excepted Mars. With the difference that Mars surface is at the bottom of a far deeper grav well. With only 0.4 km/s of escape velocity at the equator, and a sun illumination still reasonable (0.12 solar constants), Ceres is an ideal target for an ice sample return. Best regards.

DAWN mission to orbit 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta.

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