Vesta departure and journey to Ceres, A new phase of Dawn adventure |
Vesta departure and journey to Ceres, A new phase of Dawn adventure |
Aug 26 2012, 05:45 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2492 Joined: 15-January 05 From: center Italy Member No.: 150 |
As suggested by "TheAnt", is time to start a new thread!
Due to lack of updates from "Mystic simulator", I asked directly to Marc Rayman for an update and he kindly sent me the following "unofficial" plots, showing evolution of distance, radial velocity and sub-spacecraft latitude (radius trend is splitted in two plots with different scales due to huge variation of the distance): I did not publish them immediately because I wanted to integrate them with my previous plots but, due to the lack of time in last week, I decided to post them directly with only minimal changes. As you can see, third engine stop occurred on Aug 8-18 at almost 2300km above Vesta while next (final) one is just started and, as reported by Marc in his latest journal, will be used to map North polar regions from 6000km distance. Thereafter thrust will resume and, based on plots, on Sept 5 total speed will overcome escape velocity (almost 45 m/s), so total energy balance will be zero; definitive exit from Vesta Hill sphere should occur after 20 days but consider that the times could slighty change due to orbit refinement and thrust plan changes. -------------------- I always think before posting! - Marco -
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Dec 10 2014, 08:37 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
Google Hangout about the Hubble/Dawn imagery comparison coming up:
http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/dawncommunity/goo..._12_11_2014.asp It might also be time for a dedicated Ceres approach thread. |
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Dec 10 2014, 01:01 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 710 Joined: 28-September 04 Member No.: 99 |
Less than 1 million km now!!! So close!
I'm wondering though, if the ion-thrusters would fail right now, how close would the flyby be? Or could it still limp into orbit by using all the remaining conventional fuel? It might also be time for a dedicated Ceres approach thread. And a Ceres prediction thread. Could be fun to see who makes the right prediction. Will the surface look like Tethys? Callisto? Enceladus? |
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