Asteroid mission still planned for July launch
Posted: Wed, Jun 27, 2007, 7:14 AM ET (1114 GMT)
NASA is pressing ahead with plans to launch a spacecraft to the asteroid belt next month despite technical problems that could delay the launch until this fall. The Dawn mission is scheduled for launch on July 7 on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral. The launch has already been delayed a week because of a faulty crane at the launch site used to assemble the launcher; workers have also encountered mechanical problems with some vehicle components. In addition, a solar panel on the spacecraft suffered minor damage in a mishap last week, but that damage was repaired. If NASA can't launch the spacecraft by July 11 the launch would be delayed until September, at a cost of $25 million, to avoid delaying the August launch of the Phoenix mission to Mars. Dawn is a Discovery-class mission that will visit two of the largest asteroids in the main belt, Ceres and Vesta.
NASA is pressing ahead with plans to launch a spacecraft to the asteroid belt next month despite technical problems that could delay the launch until this fall. The Dawn mission is scheduled for launch on July 7 on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral. The launch has already been delayed a week because of a faulty crane at the launch site used to assemble the launcher; workers have also encountered mechanical problems with some vehicle components. In addition, a solar panel on the spacecraft suffered minor damage in a mishap last week, but that damage was repaired. If NASA can't launch the spacecraft by July 11 the launch would be delayed until September, at a cost of $25 million, to avoid delaying the August launch of the Phoenix mission to Mars. Dawn is a Discovery-class mission that will visit two of the largest asteroids in the main belt, Ceres and Vesta.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, June 27
Cosmic Storms Shaped the First Stars in the Universe
Academia Sinica — 8:32 pm ET (0032 GMT) PLD Space strengthens its Board of Directors with the appointment of Hilario Albarracín
PLD Space — 8:31 pm ET (0031 GMT) Neo Space Group Announces Dr. Abdullah Aljohani as Chief Technology and Operations Officer
Neo Space Group — 8:31 pm ET (0031 GMT) RAS Fellow awarded 2026 Carl Sagan Medal
Royal Astronomical Society — 8:29 pm ET (0029 GMT) Bow-and-arrow-shaped radio galaxy discovered by citizen scientist
Royal Astronomical Society — 8:29 pm ET (0029 GMT) |
