Dawn Enews

E-News February 17, 2010

12 Mar 2010 20:35:19 GMT

The most prominent asteroid in the sky is currently yours for the perusing with binoculars -- and perhaps even the naked eye. Tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 17, Vesta, the first target of the Dawn mission, reaches what astronomers like to call "opposition." With Vesta at opposition, the asteroid is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. Vesta is expected to shine at magnitude 6.1.

We urge you to ask your own questions! http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/ask_scientist/mailToDawnScientist.asp

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E-News December 15, 2009

15 Dec 2009 21:03:57 GMT

OK, Dawn�s arrived in the main asteroid belt � should we be worried? Is Dawn likely get smacked by, you know, an asteroid? �The short answer is “NO!�

Now that your worries are calmed, why don�t you visit Dawn�s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to find out why we don�t have to be worried for our intrepid spacecraft�s safety, as well as answers to other questions your fellow space enthusiasts have had.

Visit: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/faqs.asp

We even urge you to ask your own questions! http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/ask_scientist/mailToDawnScientist.asp

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E-News August 26, 2009

26 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

PSSST! Educators! It's August...and do we have Exciting classroom materials for You! Highlighting...

New hands-on activities that help Kids see the WOW scientists see!
The Dawn Mars Career Connections!
Dynamic On-Line Interactives
Engaging, Standards-aligned, Content Modules that give you everything you need
Compelling Mission News (as always!)
All make Dawn's Cutting Edge Science Come Alive!

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E-Bulletin March 3, 2009

5 Mar 2009 14:45:26 GMT

JOIN US ONLINE SATURDAY, MARCH 7 FOR THE NASA DAWN MARS FLYBY EDUCATOR WORKSHOP WEBINAR!

Join NASA Dawn mission scientists along with educators from around the country in a set of convergent workshops. Dawn's lead mission scientists and chief engineer will share key updates, an overview of Dawn's science and instrumentation, and how the mission will inform us of the origins of the solar system as a part of the larger, site specific workshops.

The Dawn Mars Flyby Webinar will highlight the scientists' presentations.

Webinar Agenda:

* 9:30-10:00 (PST)-Chris Russell, Dawn Principal Investigator

* 10:15-10:45 (PST)-Carol Raymond, Dawn Deputy Principal Investigator

* 10:45-11:15 (PST)-Marc Rayman, Dawn Chief Engineer

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E-Newsletter April, 2009

28 Apr 2009 01:03:09 GMT

Mission Status: Dawn Continues in Quiet Cruise
March 30, 2009: Dawn coasted quietly in its new orbit around the Sun this month. Controllers
conducted some routine maintenance but devoted most of March to preparing for future special
activities. Learn about previous mission status updates at http://www.dawnmission.
org/mission/status.asp.

Live Shots: Where is Dawn?
Take a look at exactly where Dawn is in its trajectory to the asteroid belt, and note whether the ion
propulsion system is thrusting and the orientation of the spacecraft in near "real-time."
http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/live_shots.asp.

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E-Bulletin January 30, 2009

3 Feb 2009 00:11:05 GMT

Dawn Mars Flyby Workshop--Join us at One of Our Four locations--or online

Four locations:
�� Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA
�� Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Portland, OR
�� Career Education Center (CEC), Denver Public Schools (DPS), Denver, CO
�� NASA IV and V Facility Educator Resource Center, Fairmont, WV

On March 7, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., join Dawn scientists and engineers along with K-12 and informal educators from around the country in a set of unique, convergent workshops.

Dawn flies by Mars in February 2009, at which time the spacecraft will execute special maneuvers to shift its direction into the correct orbital plane for encountering its first�target, the asteroid Vesta. During the workshop, Dawn mission science and engineering teams will share key updates and information with conference participants.�Participants will explore interactive curricular materials and enjoy special, site-specific opportunities (touring JPL, for example) as part of this distinctive workshop.

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E-Bulletin February 17, 2009

18 Feb 2009 06:00:43 GMT

Launched in September of 2007, and propelled by any one of a trio of hyper-efficient ion engines,
NASA's Dawn spacecraft passed the orbit of Mars last summer. At that time, the asteroid belt (where
Dawn's two targets, asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres reside), had never been closer. In early July the spacecraft began to lose altitude, falling back towards the inner solar system. Then on October 31, 2008, after 270 days of almost continuous thrusting, the ion drive turned off.

"Not only are our thrusters off and are we dropping in altitude, we are plunging toward Mars," said Marc Rayman, the Dawn project's chief engineer from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "And everybody here on Dawn could not be happier."

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To read NASA's Dawn Mission News Release in full, go to:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/news/dawnf-20090212.html

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