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.

The group purchased dozens of brands of juices and fruit products around California and sent them to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified lab in Berkeley, the report said.

The products tested ranged from nationally recognized brands to more niche market favorites, but the results were troubling across the board, said the report.

For example, a single serving of Raley’s private-labeled premium apple juice, Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice and Dole Pear Halves each contained levels of lead beyond what federal regulators consider safe, the report said.

“Many individual servings of apple juice, grape juice, packaged peaches and pears and fruit cocktail – all lunchbox staples – contained lead above the daily limit for young kids. Those limits were established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” the report noted.

In a written statement, the West Coast supermarket chain Raley’s said the company was surprised by the lead levels since its suppliers and private brands routinely monitor their products, but the company said it has ordered independent tests to check for lead.

The ELF said it undertook the testing to see if the kid-friendly juice and food products were complying with a California law that requires manufacturers to post safety warnings on products if they exceed lead levels set by state scientists.

The group has sent notices of suspected violations of state law to California’s attorney general, Jerry Brown. The foundation’s president, Jim Wheaton, said such tests can go a long way toward changing company behavior.

The Food and Drug Administration would not comment on the foundation’s findings, though a spokesman confirmed that the federal limits for lead were last updated nearly two decades ago.

In the meantime, many scientists, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, now say that there is no safe level of exposure to lead.

Without constant support from Moscow, economic and scientific development achieved by the island nation over past 50 years couldn’t have been possible, Serrano added.

Cuba and Russia currently cooperate closely on a wide ragne of issues,and among them are the global economic crisis, climate change and natural disasters, added the official.

Mikhail Kamynin, Russia’s ambassador to Cuba, said bilateral relations are excellent with high-level cooperation achieved in various sectors.

Attendees of the event also include ambassadors and diplomats from Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, as well as officials from the Central Committee of Communist Party of Cuba and the Foreign Ministry.

Cuba and Russia maintain close military and economic ties.

Clues have indicated the Cessna type small plane, originally bound for Peru’s famed Nazca Lines, has been diverted to Bolivia or Brazil by the kidnappers, he said.

IDs presented by all the seven passengers aboard have found to be fake, added Belevan.

Authorities have sent nine planes and three ground patrols to search for the missing plane but have so far failed to find it.

It was sunny and locals witnessed all the pomp and ceremony associated with maritime forces worldwide in a full-uniform parade, the unveiling of a Centennial statue called “Homecoming” depicting the reunion of a child and her naval officer father, and a flyover by the famed “Snowbirds” squad from the Canadian Airforce.

With participation of visiting warships from Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, Canadian navy chief Dean McFadden said an international fleet review has “always been a circumstance of very great pageantry” and there were few symbols “more powerful than a range of warships at anchor with a reviewing officer going down those ranks.”

Following the fleet review which is running for five days through Monday, another ceremony will be held on the Atlantic coast next month representing the vast territory covered by the Canadian navy.

“The ships that are assembling in Royal Roads ( a Canadian naval training center outside Victoria) now, they are not ceremonial units. They are warships representing the power and commitment of their own nations,” said McFadden who has split his naval career evenly between the Pacific and Atlantic fleets.