[meteorite-list] Dawn Holding in Second Mapping Orbit

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2015 16:47:29 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201507062347.t66NlTqH012443_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4649

Dawn Holding in Second Mapping Orbit
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
July 6, 2015

DAWN MISSION STATUS REPORT

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is healthy and stable, after experiencing an anomaly
in the system that controls its orientation. It is still in its second
mapping orbit 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above dwarf planet Ceres.

On June 30, shortly after turning on its ion engine to begin the gradual
spiral down to the next mapping orbit, its protective software detected
the anomaly. Dawn responded as designed by stopping all activities (including
thrusting), reconfiguring its systems to safe mode and transmitting a
radio signal to request further instructions. On July 1 and 2, engineers
made configuration changes needed to return the spacecraft to its normal
operating mode. The spacecraft is out of safe mode, using the main antenna
to communicate with Earth.

Dawn will remain at its current orbital altitude until the operations
team has completed an analysis of what occurred and has updated the flight
plan.

Because of the versatility of Dawn's ion propulsion system and the flexibility
of the mission's plan for exploring Ceres, there is no special "window"
for starting or completing the spiral to the third mapping orbit. The
plans for the third and fourth mapping orbits can be shifted to new dates
without significant changes in objectives or productivity.

More information on the Dawn mission is online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/dawn

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov


Media Contact

Elizabeth Landau
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-6425
Elizabeth.Landau at jpl.nasa.gov

2015-229
Received on Mon 06 Jul 2015 07:47:29 PM PDT