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NASA’s Dawn Mission Journey to the Asteroid Frontier

NASA’s Dawn Mission Journey to the Asteroid Frontier. Lucy McFadden, Co-Investigator Goddard Space Flight Center July 8, 2011 PA3 MSP 3 Summer Workshop 2011. The Dawn Mission. Traveling Back In Time. Dawn Explores the Earliest Epochs.

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NASA’s Dawn Mission Journey to the Asteroid Frontier

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  1. NASA’s Dawn MissionJourney to the Asteroid Frontier Lucy McFadden, Co-Investigator Goddard Space Flight Center July 8, 2011 PA3 MSP 3 Summer Workshop 2011

  2. The Dawn Mission

  3. Traveling Back In Time

  4. Dawn Explores the Earliest Epochs Vesta and Ceres are intact survivors of the earliest epoch of planetary formation.

  5. # CAIs Chondrules HED Differentiation Eucrites emplacement Angrites Planetesimal Differentiation Pallasite Mesosiderites Planetary Accretion Mars Earth Vesta formed and Differentiated Beginning of the Solar System

  6. Vesta is the only asteroid directly identified as a meteorite parent body. Vesta • Vesta was linked to basaltic achondrite meteorites (HEDs) using reflectance spectra [1970,McCord]. • Vesta and the HEDs share the same (basaltic) mineralogy. • From geochemical analyses of these meteorites, we can make inferences about geologic processes on Vesta. • These include inferences about the presence of an iron core and ancient aqueous fluids. Meteorites Fe2+ in Pyroxene Mg Fe

  7. The Asteroid Belt

  8. Spacecraft Dry mass: 745 kg Wet mass: 1240 kg Solar array power (1 AU): 10.3 kW Solar array power (3 AU): 1.3 kW Delta II 7925H-9.5

  9. Interplanetary Trajectory

  10. Ion Propulsion Deep Space 1

  11. Ion Propulsion System 2.3 meters Hydrazine tank 45 kg capacity Xenon tank 450 kg capacity Ion thruster Folded solar arrays

  12. Mapping Global Topographic Maps Framing Camera techniques have been proven on many previous missions. The camera’s most recent heritage comes from Venus Express.

  13. Map the Elemental Composition Gamma ray and neutron detector (GRaND) techniques have been proven on Lunar Prospector. GRaND’s most recent heritage is from Mars Odyssey

  14. Map the Mineralogical Composition

  15. Exploring New Worlds • Dawn’s Itinerary • The Dawn Spacecraft will travel • 6.3 billion kilometers (almost 4 billion miles) • In almost ten years • To the asteroids, 4 Vesta and 1 Ceres. Vesta Ceres

  16. Map the Gravity Field Vesta Gravity from Shape Model

  17. Partners • University of California, Los Angeles • Scientific Leadership • JPL – Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Management and Navigation • Orbital Sciences Corporation • Spacecraft design and build • Los Alamos National Laboratory • GRAND instrument • DLR – German Aerospace Center • Framing Camera • Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research • Framing Camera • ASI – Italian Space Agency • VIR • New Roads School, University of Maryland, and McREL • Education and Public Outreach

  18. Learn More! http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov

  19. Unlocking the Mysteries Science on the Edge of Our Solar System

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