Dawn flies close to Ceres as mission approaches end
Posted: Sun, Jul 8, 2018, 9:40 AM ET (1340 GMT)
NASA's Dawn spacecraft, nearing the end of its mission, has dipped very close to the surface of Ceres. The spacecraft used its ion engine for the final time to move into an orbit that brings it as close as 35 kilometers from the surface of Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt. That orbit allows the spacecraft to provide the sharpest images yet of the surface, including a crater called Occator that has a bright feature in its center believed to be salt deposits. The spacecraft is running low on maneuvering fuel and its mission will end when that fuel is exhausted, likely in the next several months.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft, nearing the end of its mission, has dipped very close to the surface of Ceres. The spacecraft used its ion engine for the final time to move into an orbit that brings it as close as 35 kilometers from the surface of Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt. That orbit allows the spacecraft to provide the sharpest images yet of the surface, including a crater called Occator that has a bright feature in its center believed to be salt deposits. The spacecraft is running low on maneuvering fuel and its mission will end when that fuel is exhausted, likely in the next several months.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, October 22
Eutelsat Communications: First Quarter 2025-26 Revenues
Business Wire — 5:06 am ET (0906 GMT) Musk rages at Trump's Transportation head on X: He "is trying to kill NASA!"
Axios — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) Muon Satellites To Use SpaceX Starlink Laser Comms
Aviation Week — 4:57 am ET (0857 GMT) SpaceX targets Wednesday morning for Starlink launch out of Vandenberg Space Force Base
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:56 am ET (0856 GMT) Oman spaceport seeks to lure launchers from Europe, Asia
Semafor — 4:53 am ET (0853 GMT) |
