NASA restores Dawn mission
Posted: Tue, Mar 28, 2006, 8:33 AM ET (1333 GMT)
NASA has reversed its earlier cancellation of the Dawn mission to two main belt asteroids, citing renewed confidence in the project's ability to overcome technical obstacles. NASA had cancelled Dawn in early March after a lengthy review triggered by technical problems with the spacecraft and resulting cost increases. The decision created an outcry in the planetary science community, which lobbied for the mission. NASA then made the unusual step of reconsidering the mission, concluding Monday that the project had made "substantive progress" on its technical issues. Dawn is now scheduled for launch in 2007 on a mission to the main belt asteroids Ceres and Vesta. NASA officials did not specify how much additional money would be needed to complete the mission, and where the money would come from.
NASA has reversed its earlier cancellation of the Dawn mission to two main belt asteroids, citing renewed confidence in the project's ability to overcome technical obstacles. NASA had cancelled Dawn in early March after a lengthy review triggered by technical problems with the spacecraft and resulting cost increases. The decision created an outcry in the planetary science community, which lobbied for the mission. NASA then made the unusual step of reconsidering the mission, concluding Monday that the project had made "substantive progress" on its technical issues. Dawn is now scheduled for launch in 2007 on a mission to the main belt asteroids Ceres and Vesta. NASA officials did not specify how much additional money would be needed to complete the mission, and where the money would come from.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, May 26
Rocket Lab announces new mission launch window
New Zealand Herald — 9:29 am ET (1329 GMT) Rocket Lab's new window for first launch
NEWS.com.au — 9:28 am ET (1328 GMT) 7 things we learned about SpaceX from COO Gwynne Shotwell
Los Angeles Business Journal — 9:24 am ET (1324 GMT) Sir Richard Branson to blast himself into space 'in months' after training as an astronaut
The Independent — 9:18 am ET (1318 GMT) Sir Richard Branson training to be astronaut as space race hots up
Press Association — 9:14 am ET (1314 GMT) |
