Dawn Launch

Dawn Spacecraft Successfully Launched 27th September 07

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Dawn spacecraft began its 3 billion kilometer (1.7 billion mile) journey through the inner solar system to study a pair of asteroids Thursday at 7:34 a.m. Eastern Time (4:34 a.m. Pacific Time).

The Delta 2 rocket, fitted with nine strap-on solid-fuel boosters, safely climbed away from the Florida coastline and launch complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. "We have our time machine up and flying," said Dawn Principal Investigator Christopher Russell of the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dawn is scheduled to begin its exploration of Vesta in 2011 and Ceres in 2015. The two icons of the asteroid belt are located in orbit between Mars and Jupiter and have been witness to so much of our solar system's history.

By using the same set of instruments at two separate destinations, scientists can more accurately formulate comparisons and contrasts. Dawn's science instrument suite will measure shape, surface topography and tectonic history, elemental and mineral composition as well as seek out water-bearing minerals.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dawn
• Launch
• Liftoff
• NASA
• Delta
• II

[JainaSkylar]

Wow... that was beautiful! HEY! My name's on the microchip on there! My name's in space! SWEET!

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

Wow...congrats - you're off to the asteroids !

[smoothvirus]

Looks like Venus going by at 1:13

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

Ah yes, I was wondering what that was. Dawn was launced right at dawn !

[Dreamsender]

Great job! One of these days I will catch up

with you...lol!

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

Looking forward to the competition !

[punkboi2007]

My name is on the microchip too! :D There are 365,000 names onboard the chip, FYI

[Ferrariman601]

I think I'm on the microchip too!

[westlock]

Did you see Venus flash by at 1:13?

[lisabrygger]

not too many people monitoring the craft

[lcclk]

Fast liftoff there

[BDCampbell]

my company builds the propellants tanks for these rockets

[Zachmister]

Mine went to mars on phoenix

[ashteryth]

Yup, my name is on there too