Dawn (spacecraft): the story on HearLore

A Budget Battle And Rebirth

Twenty-six proposals were submitted to the Discovery Program solicitation with an initial budget target of US$300 million. Three semi-finalists emerged in January 2001 including Dawn, Kepler, and INSIDE Jupiter. NASA selected both Kepler and Dawn for the program in December 2001 with a planned launch date of 2006. The project status changed repeatedly over the next few years. It was cancelled in December 2003 then reinstated in February 2004. Work entered stand down mode in October 2005 and discussions labeled it indefinitely postponed by January 2006. On the 2nd of March 2006, NASA cancelled the mission again. Orbital Sciences Corporation appealed the decision offering to build the spacecraft at cost without profit. This appeal led to a review and a final announcement on the 27th of March 2006 that the mission would proceed. Cost overruns inflated the final price from US$373 million to US$446 million in 2007. Christopher T. Russell took charge as team leader.

When did the Dawn spacecraft launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station?

The Dawn mission launched on the 27th of September 2007. It departed from Space Launch Complex 17B using a Delta 7925-H rocket to escape Earth's gravity.

What were the primary targets of the NASA Dawn orbiter mission?

Dawn targeted two large bodies in the asteroid belt named Ceres and Vesta. These protoplanets offered contrasting characteristics with one being wet and icy while the other remained dry and rocky.

How long did the Dawn spacecraft operate before ending its mission?

NASA announced the end of operations on the 1st of November 2018 when Dawn depleted its hydrazine fuel supply. The spacecraft had run out of propellant by the 31st of October 2018 while remaining in an uncontrolled but stable orbit around Ceres.

Which ion thruster technology enabled the Dawn mission to visit multiple celestial bodies?

The Dawn mission relied on heritage from Deep Space 1 which demonstrated long-duration use of xenon-propelled ion thrusters. This technology validated systems like the NSTAR electrostatic ion thruster for unique multi-orbit capabilities.

When did the Dawn spacecraft enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres?

The spacecraft entered Ceres orbit on the 6th of March 2015 four months before New Horizons arrived at Pluto. This made Dawn the first mission to study a dwarf planet at close range.

Dawn (spacecraft).

A Budget Battle And Rebirth

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Common questions

When did the Dawn spacecraft launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station?

What were the primary targets of the NASA Dawn orbiter mission?

How long did the Dawn spacecraft operate before ending its mission?

Which ion thruster technology enabled the Dawn mission to visit multiple celestial bodies?

When did the Dawn spacecraft enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres?

Two Worlds One Mission

A Long Spiral To The Belt

Mapping The Rocky Giant

The Icy Dwarf Planet

Engineering Around Failure

A Monument In Orbit