News articles tagged with 'Dawn'
When is an asteroid not an asteroid?
— 30 Mar 2011 17:37 | AstronomyOn March 29, 1807, German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers spotted Vesta as a pinprick of light in the sky. Two hundred and four years later, as NASA's Dawn spacecraft prepares to…
NASA's Dawn spacecraft fires past record for speed change
— 8 Jun 2010 14:12 | AstronomyDeep in the heart of the asteroid belt, on its way to the first of the belt's two most massive inhabitants, NASA's ion-propelled Dawn spacecraft has eclipsed the record for velocity…
Dawn enters asteroid belt - for good
— 18 Nov 2009 09:55 | AstronomyNASA's Dawn spacecraft re-entered our solar system's asteroid belt 13 November and this time it will stay there…
Craters on Vesta and Ceres could hold key to Jupiter's age
— 14 Sep 2009 00:02 | AstronomyCrater patterns on Vesta and Ceres could help pinpoint when Jupiter began to form during the evolution of the early Solar System. A study modelling the cratering history of the largest…
Dawn spacecraft re-lights the ionic fire
— 9 Jun 2009 12:48 | AstronomyMission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., have received a transmission from the Dawn spacecraft confirming it has re-ignited its ion propulsion system.…
Dawn spacecraft finishes Mars phase
— 4 Mar 2009 18:40 | AstronomyWith Mars disappearing in its metaphorical rearview mirror, NASA's Dawn spacecraft's next stop is the asteroid belt and the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn got as close as 549 kilometres…
NASA's Dawn spacecraft falling for Mars
— 13 Feb 2009 10:00 | AstronomyLaunched in September of 2007, and propelled by any one of a trio of hyper-efficient ion engines, NASA's Dawn spacecraft passed the orbit of Mars last summer. At that time, the asteroid…
Dawn glides toward a Mars flyby
— 21 Nov 2008 13:48 | AstronomyNASA's Dawn spacecraft shut down its ion propulsion system today as scheduled. The spacecraft is now gliding toward a Mars flyby in February of next year. 'Dawn has completed the thrusting…
Dawn spacecraft tests ion engine
— 10 Oct 2007 13:41 | AstronomyNASA's Dawn spacecraft successfully completed the first test of its ion propulsion system over the weekend. The system is vital to the success of Dawn's 8-year, 1.6 billion-kilometre…
Dawn spacecraft enroute to shed light on asteroid belt
— 28 Sep 2007 01:23 | AstronomyNASA's Dawn spacecraft is on its way to study a pair of asteroids after lifting off Thursday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:34 AM EDT. Mission controllers at NASA's…