| |
| Dawn | |
|---|---|
| A mission to the asteroid belt | |
| Organization |
NASA |
| Major Contractors |
Orbital Sciences, JPL, UCLA |
| Satellite Of | |
| Launch |
September 27, 2007, 7:34 a.m |
| Launch Vehicle |
Delta 7925H |
| Mission Duration |
8 years |
| Mass |
1,250 kg (2,756 lb) |
| NSSDC ID |
DAWN |
| Webpage | |
| Eccentricity |
~ circular |
| Inclination |
Polar |
Dawn is a spacecraft made by JPL. I'ts mission is to explore the two biggest object is the asteroid belt: the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. First Vesta will be visited in 2011 till 2012 and Ceres in 2015 Non of the two bodies have been visited before.
It is launched on 27 September 2007 and it made it's first flyby on 17 February 2009, at Mars. The spacecraft used Mars' gravity to 'slingshot' himself into deeper space.
launch[]
On 27 September, 2007 the Dawn spacecraft was launched on board of a Delta II rocket. the rocket accelerated to 11.46 Km an hour thereafter the ion thruster took over.
mission[]
status[]
spacecraft[]
ion thruster[]
gallery[]
main article: Gallery of Dawn
