Dawn approaches Vesta, Approach phase, 3 May to 16 July 2011 Options

[Greg Hullender]

New Dawn Journal.

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/journal_06_23_11.asp


Highlights:

To achieve the navigational accuracy required to reach the intended orbit in early August, last week the frequency of imaging was increased to twice per week. In each session, half of the pictures are taken with long exposures to ensure many stars are detectable, thus overexposing the much brighter disc of the nearby Vesta.

Twice in the next few weeks, the spacecraft will watch Vesta throughout its complete 5.3-hour rotation on its axis, revealing exciting new perspectives on this uncharted body. The explorer also will search for moons of the alien world.

It promises regular updates of pictures here: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/vesta_dawn_gallery.asp

The next log will be posted shortly after Dawn is in a high, loose orbit around Vesta, still spiraling down toward survey orbit, where it will begin making detailed studies of its home for the subsequent year.

So expect another log after July 16 or so.


--Greg

[Ian R]

Bit late to the party, I know, but here's my take on the June 20th sequence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cuAJ4b45IA

[Holder of the Tw...]

74,000 miles to go. Pictures should be around fifty pixels now. According to the simulated views on the website, DAWN has not been thrusting for several hours, so perhaps they are making their first full rotation movie now.

Also, from my own wikipedia based rough calculations, I'm finding that Vesta's gravity, over the course of a 24 hour day, is currently accelerating the spacecraft to the tune of adding about one quarter of one mile per hour to its approach speed. In metric, an extra 0.12 meters per second per day.

[Greg Hullender]

The Dawn Framing Camera is holding a vote on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/dawn.framing.camera

It wants to know if we'd be interested in Q&A with the Framing Camera Team (hearing about how images are commanded and acquired) or if we just want to look at the pictures.

--Greg

[Explorer1]

The wording of the 2nd option "No, I am just interested in seeing more images" seems like we're not voting against getting new images if the 1st option wins, it's just an 'extra' thing.

So we're win-win either way.

[Greg Hullender]

Beware, though; it's not a secret ballot. Welcome to the world of Facebook . . .

--Greg

[tek_604]

The wording of the 2nd option "No, I am justinterested in seeing more images" seems like we're not voting against getting new images if the 1st option wins, it's just an 'extra' thing.

Please don't read too much into this! The guy who updates the Framing Camera page on facebook is Spanish, so not a native English speaker. After I mentioned to him what you had said, he said "oops".

Basically, the options should be, you want the Q&A, or only images.

Also, on a very much related note, can someone please authorise the new user pablogm1024... Once he is authorised, and we get a positive vote for the Q&A, he can do it here on the forum.

[ngunn]

Q&A, he can do it here on the forum.

I'm sure many forum members would welcome that, even if they don't participate in the facebook vote.

[djellison]

The simulated Vesta shape-file has made it into 'Eyes...'

http://twitpic.com/5ia7dv/full

Cunning combo of low-res poly model, and a normal map derived from the high res shape file (which had >700,000 polys!!)

This should get replaced over time as the science team produce new shape files.

[ugordan]

I thought about asking this before, now that it's quite obvious Vesta is in reality very lumpy I guess it doesn't hurt - why did their simulated shape model assume such low crater relief? Shouldn't craters be expected to look more bowl-shaped on a body with relatively low gravity?

[Phil Stooke]

Right, it's a more lunar-like depth/diameter ratio. But I don't think the purpose was a realistic depiction of the surface, it was probably just to add a spacy-looking texture.

Phil

[elakdawalla]

Also, on a very much related note, can someone please authorise the new user pablogm1024... Once he is authorised, and we get a positive vote for the Q&A, he can do it here on the forum.

Done, and sounds great! Sorry, we got a bit behind on the new user approval process.

[pablogm1024]

Done, and sounds great! Sorry, we got a bit behind on the new user approval process.

Thank you for the approval.

The Q&A is now open under http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=6998 . Please forgive us (and help us) if our inexperience makes us violate some etiquette rules.

Pablo Gutiérrez-Marqués
Dawn Framing Camera Operations Manager

[bagelverse]

More images Friday according to the Dawn Mission Facebook page

Raj Pillai
Any new pics after June 20th of Vesta?..
Yesterday at 9:15am · Like ·

David Braunstein ‎(Please)^100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 hours ago · Like
Dawn Mission Friday!!
13 hours ago · Like · 1 person
David Braunstein Yeah^100
7 hours ago · Like
Raj Pillai I have no idea who is talking about what.. but am I to assume Friday we will get to see newer pics of Vesta?..
3 hours ago · Like
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[Greg Hullender]

Please forgive us (and help us) if our inexperience makes us violate some etiquette rules.

Someone tell him to feel free to violate the rule against in-line images. :-)

--Greg