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NASA Spacecraft Breaks Speed Boost Record

June 12, 2010

Deep Zooming Toward the Heart of

the asteroid belt, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft accelerated Has Itself Into the record books for the single biggest boost speed ever by a spacecraft engine.

The ion-propelled spacecraft set the new record while on ITS way to visit the asteroid belt’s Two Biggest space rocks, Ceres and Vesta.

“We are using this amazing ion-engine technology as a stepping-stone to

orbit and explore the asteroid belt of Two’s Most mysterious objects, Vesta and Ceres, “Said Robert Mase, Dawn project manager from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Located in Pasadena, Calif..

The all-time record velocity changes calculated previously Was Held by

NASA’s Deep Space 1 probe, Which Was The first spacecraft to use ion Interplanetary propulsion technology. Ion propulsion thrust by Consistently Creates Accelerating ions-through a nozzle using electrostatic force.

Deep Space 1′s record Fell on June 5, When the Dawn spacecraft’s acceleration Accumulated over the course of the past-the mission Sailed 9.600 mph (15.449 kph) mark.

A spacecraft’s velocity changes in Refers to changes to UK & ITS ITS ITS using space-through path Own

rocket engines. Measurements of this change begin only after the spacecraft exits the last stage of the vehicle launch hurled it INITIALLY That Into space. NASA Launched The Dawn mission on Sept. 27, 2007.

Since Then, Dawn Has Had To EACH of Its Three fire engines, at a one time, for a cumulative total of 620 days in order to Reach the Asteroid belt and set the new record velocity changes. In doing so, It Has Used less Than 363 pounds (165 kg) of xenon propellant.

Over the course of Its eight-plus-year mission, Dawn’s ion engines Three are expected to accumulate 2.000 Days of operation – equivalent to 5.5 years of Thrusting – for a total change in velocity of over 24.000 mph (38.000 kph).

“I Am Delighted That It Will Be That surpasses Dawn DS1′s record,” Said Marc Rayman, chief engineer for the Dawn mission, and a previous project manager for Deep Space 1. “It Is a Tribute to All Those Involved In The Design and Operations cette Remarkable spacecraft.”

While Dawn’s energy thrusts of 0-to-60 mph (0-to-97 kph) in Four-days May prononcer underwhelming, the spacecraft IS incredibly efficient. In fact, it expend a mere 37 ounces of xenon propellant DURING That Time.

Furthermore, after days of oven Thrusting full-throttle, it continued Thrusting for Two more four-day intervals. By the End of 12 days, Dawn Will Have INcreased ITS velocity by more Than 180 mph (290 KPH), with more days, and weeks months of continuous Thrusting ou with.

Over the course of a year, Dawn’s ion propulsion system can grandir the spacecraft’s speed by a whopping 5.500 mph (8.850 kph), all the while consuming only the equivalent of 16 gallons of fuel.

“This is a special time for the spacecraft team,” Said Dawn’s principal investigator Chris Russell of the University of California Los Angeles. “In only 407 days, o minds Will Be On Another set of records, the data records transmitted That Will Dawn When we enter

Vesta orbit. ”

Next stop: space rock

The Dawn spacecraft to travel across IS Expected three one billion miles (4.8 one billion km) odyssey That Will one year exploration of asteroid Vesta include in 2011 and 2012 and the dwarf planet Ceres in 2015. Vesta and Ceres Both Have Witnessed Much of Our Solar System’s history.

By using the set of instruments at même Two Separate destinations, scientists can more accurately Formulate comparisons and contrast. Dawn’s full suite of science instruments Will measure shape, surface topographical and tectonic history, elemental and mineral composition, “as well as seek out water-bearing minerals.

Additionally, the Way That the spacecraft orbits Vesta and Ceres Both Will Be Used to Measure the mass and gravity fields of the celestial Bodies.

And while Dawn Surpassed Deep Space 1′s record for velocity changes, the older probe Still Holds the record for the longest-duration spaceflight Of powered, and Will continues to do so for Another months few “. Dawn is handler, howeve, Expected to take over That record has around early August of this year.

As The Dawn probe the asteroid belt-through streaks headed for a rendezvous space rock, Another unmanned probe is returning home from one. Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft flying ever closer to IS Earth and set to drop a sample return capsule That of Its Parts peut asteroid Itokawa target on Sunday, June 13. Japan’s space agency Launched the Hayabusa mission in 2003 and the probe Arrived “at its target asteroid in 2005, aims Suffered Multiple Malfunctions DURING ITS trip.

The Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres IS managed by NASA’s JPL. The University of California, Los Angeles IS responsible for list overall Dawn mission science.

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