NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Dawn's Exploration of VestaOn 16 July 2011, after completing nearly four years of interplanetary flight, Dawn entered orbit around (4) Vesta, the second most massive body in the main asteroid belt. Dawn used solar electric propulsion to spiral to a series of six different orbits to accomplish its science campaign. Although the transfers to progressively lower orbits presented significant challenges, all were executed smoothly. During its nearly 14 months in orbit, Dawn spiraled down to 210 km above the surface and back up, before initiating the gradual departure to travel to dwarf planet (1) Ceres for a 2015 rendezvous. Dawn's exploration of Vesta has shown it to be geologically complex and fascinating, resembling terrestrial planets more than typical asteroids. Among the principal features is a 500-km diameter impact basin within which is the second tallest mountain known in the solar system. This paper presents Dawn's operations at Vesta and summarizes the principal findings.
Document ID
20150008761
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Rayman, Marc D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mase, Robert A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 26, 2015
Publication Date
October 1, 2012
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
Paper IAC-12,A3,4,3,x12856
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Astronautical Congress Meeting
Location: Naples
Country: Italy
Start Date: October 1, 2012
End Date: October 5, 2012
Sponsors: International Astronautical Federation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
ion propulsion
asteroid
main asteroid belt
solar electric propulsion

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available