News tagged with dawn spacecraft

Related topics: nasa , orbit , spacecraft , asteroid , solar system

Dawn Spacecraft Fires Past Record for Speed Change (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- Deep 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 change ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jun 08, 2010 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (21) | comments 11 | with audio podcast

NASA's new ion engine ready for missions in space

(PhysOrg.com) -- A small robotic surveyor arrives to explore a near-Earth asteroid. Another robotic spacecraft is returning to Earth with a pristine comet surface sample. Meanwhile, a robotic explorer is approaching ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Apr 15, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (17) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

Is Vesta the 'smallest terrestrial planet?'

NASA's Dawn spacecraft spent the last four years voyaging to asteroid Vesta – and may have found a planet.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 12, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (13) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

Countdown to Vesta

Let the countdown begin. NASA's Dawn spacecraft is less than one year away from giant asteroid Vesta.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Aug 20, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (12) | comments 5 | with audio podcast

Dawn probe reaches milestone approaching asteroid Vesta

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation for an expected July 16 orbital encounter. ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created May 03, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Space mountain produces terrestrial meteorites

When NASA's Dawn spacecraft entered orbit around giant asteroid Vesta in July, scientists fully expected the probe to reveal some surprising sights. But no one expected a 13-mile high mountain, two and a half ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jan 02, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (13) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

NASA Spacecraft Falling For Mars

(PhysOrg.com) -- Launched 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 belt ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Feb 13, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (12) | comments 2

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Enters Orbit Around Asteroid Vesta

NASA's Dawn spacecraft on Saturday became the first probe ever to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jul 17, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (10) | comments 11 | with audio podcast

NASA's Dawn spacecraft beams back new photo

(PhysOrg.com) -- Dawn took this image during its current orbit of Vesta, traveling from the day side to the night side.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jul 22, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (10) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

When is an asteroid not an asteroid?

(PhysOrg.com) -- On 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 begin ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 30, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (10) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Dawn beams back asteroid science data

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Dawn spacecraft has completed a graceful spiral into the first of four planned science orbits during the spacecraft's yearlong visit to Vesta. The spacecraft started taking detailed observations ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Aug 12, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 5 | with audio podcast

New NASA dawn visuals show Vesta's 'color palette'

(PhysOrg.com) -- Vesta appears in a splendid rainbow-colored palette in new images obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The colors, assigned by scientists to show different rock or mineral types, reveal Vesta ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 06, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Dawn sends first low altitude images of Vesta

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has sent back the first images of the giant asteroid Vesta from its low-altitude mapping orbit. The images, obtained by the framing camera, show the stippled and lumpy ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 21, 2011 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (10) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Dawn spacecraft returns close-up image of asteroid Vesta

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned the first close-up image after beginning its orbit around the giant asteroid Vesta. On Friday, July 15, Dawn became the first probe to enter orbit around ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jul 19, 2011 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Dawn sees new surface features on giant asteroid

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed unexpected details on the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. New images and data highlight the diversity of Vesta's surface and reveal unusual geologic ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Mar 21, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast