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Dawn's instruments are being roused for Vesta approach
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/03/21 05:00 CDT
Today the Dawn imaging team released a photo from the main camera, the Framing Camera, symbolizing that they're preparing to start Dawn approach science; the other two science instruments, a spectrometer and a neutron detector, are also being turned on and checked out.
Dawn Journal: HAMO2; the destination glows bright
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2011/03/09 01:06 CST
Deep in the asteroid belt, Dawn continues thrusting with its ion propulsion system. The spacecraft is making excellent progress in reshaping its orbit around the sun to match that of its destination, the unexplored world Vesta, with arrival now less than five months away.
What's up in the solar system in March 2011
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/02/28 02:43 CST
I don't think there's any question what the big event of this month will be: MESSENGER is finally, finally entering orbit at Mercury on March 18 at 00:45 UTC (March 17 at 16:45 for me).
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2011/02/03 12:10 CST
Dawn continues its flight through the asteroid belt, steadily heading toward its July rendezvous with Vesta, where it will take up residence for a year. On January 10, Dawn performed some of the activities that it will execute in its low altitude mapping orbit (LAMO) at Vesta.
Dawn Journal: LAMO (Low Altitude Mapping Orbit)
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2011/01/05 03:35 CST
Dawn finishes 2010 much as it began the year, thrusting with its ion propulsion system in steady pursuit of a distant world.
Dawn Journal: Attitude Adjustment
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/12/07 11:29 CST
Dawn Journal: Attitude Adjustment
Dawn Journal: Approaching conjunction
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/11/03 03:12 CDT
Dawn Journal: Approaching conjunction
Dawn Journal: Third anniversary in space, and how to map Vesta
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/09/28 11:48 CDT
Dawn Journal: Third anniversary in space, and how to map Vesta
Dawn Journal: Getting warmer, farther from the Sun?
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/09/02 02:34 CDT
Dawn Journal: Getting warmer, farther from the Sun?
Dawn Journal: A Year from Vesta
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/07/28 12:10 CDT
Dawn Journal: A Year from Vesta
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/06/30 08:24 CDT
Dawn Journal: Dawn 9.0
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/06/01 11:41 CDT
Dawn Journal: Surveying Vesta
Dawn Journal: Matching paces with Vesta
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/05/02 11:01 CDT
Dawn Journal: Matching paces with Vesta
Dawn Journal: It's just a phase
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/03/30 12:43 CDT
Dawn Journal: It's just a phase
Dawn Journal: Forever farther from Earth than the Sun
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/02/26 09:14 CST
Dawn Journal: Forever farther from Earth than the Sun
Dawn Journal: Thruster Two's Time to Shine
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/02/10 01:14 CST
Dawn Journal: Thruster Two's Time to Shine
Dawn Journal: Patiently accelerating
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2010/01/05 02:51 CST
Dawn Journal: Patiently accelerating
What's up in the solar system in January 2010
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2010/01/04 01:29 CST
While we don't have Moon bases, we do have plenty of spacecraft. Before I get into my more detailed look at the activities of the 20-odd spacecraft wandering about the solar system, I thought I'd look ahead to 2010 more generally and see what the year has in store for us.
Dawn Journal: In the asteroid belt, but far from asteroids
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/12/01 11:22 CST
Dawn Journal: Taking up residence in the asteroid belt
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/11/02 11:32 CST
Dawn Journal: Taking up residence in the asteroid belt
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