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A spectacular launch of the Dawn spacecraft into a beautiful Florida sky. Photo credit: NASA
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NASA's Dawn spacecraft began its 1.7 billion
mile journey through the inner solar system to study a pair of
asteroids Thursday at 7:34 a.m. EDT.
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.
A critical milestone for the spacecraft comes in is acquiring its
signal. The launch team expects that to occur in approximately 2-3
hours.
For the latest information about Dawn and its mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/dawn
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