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
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, May 5
Eutelsat Appoints Jean-François Fallacher as New CEO
Wall Street Journal — 6:25 am ET (1025 GMT) CT PR pro: Blue Origin’s space stunt fell flat
Hartford (CT) Business Journal — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starbase Is to be Texas’ Newest City. From Where It’s Located to Its Population, Here’s What to Know
Time — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Residents of SpaceX’s Starbase launch site vote to incorporate as a city
TechCrunch — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Elon Musk Wins Vote To Make SpaceX Site Into Its Own City
Vanity Fair — 6:20 am ET (1020 GMT) |
