[X] My Assistant

[Guest_AlexBlackwell_*]

That possibility has been considered for Dawn in the past, and rejected as not cost-effective -- it cuts the total cost of the mission only slightly. (Also, of the two asteroids, Vesta is consisently ranked higher priority scientifically, being more unique.)

More importantly, eliminating one of the two proposed targets undercuts one of the main reasons the science review panel ranked Dawn so highly: comparative studies from the same platform. IMO, eliminating one of the asteroids is an even more drastic descope than elimination of the magnetometer.

[GravityWaves]

B)-->

Maybe we should hire a NASA-spy...
[/quote]

or ask the Russians a question like if Congress is going to approve Dawn, maybe they've a few insiders ?? .....just saw a news-item about leaked info, it appears that even after the fall of the USSR these Russians today know more about the inner workings of the Pentagon than the US does. The Ruskie U.N. mission in New York of course denied it "Somebody wants to say something, and did — and there is no evidence to prove it."
I've gone off topic....but I think there are a lot of top-dogs at NASA that don't know what the heck is going on with this mission

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

NASA ANNOUNCES FINAL DAWN DECISION

NASA will host a media telecon at 2:30 p.m. EST today (27/3) to discuss
results of the committee reviewing the decision to terminate the DAWN
mission.

The DAWN spacecraft was scheduled to orbit Vesta and Ceres, two of the
largest asteroids in the solar system. During its mission, the
spacecraft would observe the properties of the two asteroids
providing insight into the formation of the early solar system.

[Toma B]

NASA ANNOUNCES FINAL DAWN DECISION

NASA will host a media telecon at 2:30 p.m. EST today (27/3) to discuss
results of the committee reviewing the decision to terminate the DAWN
mission.

I just can't wait to hear that news!
Until then I will be hoping!

[BPCooper]

B)-->

I just can't wait to hear that news!
Until then I will be hoping!
[/quote]

NASA Watch reports it will be restarted. Wonder when the launch date will be now...

--------------------

-Ben
www.LaunchPhotography.com

[Toma B]

YES!!!

NASA Reinstates the Dawn Mission

NASA senior management announced a decision Monday to reinstate the Dawn mission, a robotic exploration of two major asteroids. Dawn had been canceled because of technical problems and cost overruns.

The mission, named because it was designed to study objects dating from the dawn of the solar system, would travel to Vesta and Ceres, two of the largest asteroids orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Dawn will use an electric ion propulsion system and orbit multiple objects.

The mission originally was approved in December 2001 and was set for launch in June 2006. Technical problems and other difficulties delayed the projected launch date to July 2007 and pushed the cost from its original estimate of $373 million to $446 million. The decision to cancel Dawn was made March 2, 2006, after about $257 million already had been spent. An additional expenditure of about $14 million would have been required to terminate the project.

The reinstatement resulted from a review process that is part of new management procedures established by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. The process is intended to help ensure open debate and thorough evaluation of major decisions regarding space exploration and agency operations.

"We revisited a number of technical and financial challenges and the work being done to address them," said NASA Associate Administrator Rex Geveden, who chaired the review panel. "Our review determined the project team has made substantive progress on many of this mission's technical issues, and, in the end, we have confidence the mission will succeed."

[MahFL]

Excellent, my mother in law is called Vesta .

[Toma B]

Excellent, my mother in law is called Vesta .

Lucky You!!!

[djellison]

GET IN

Doug

[odave]

All of the issues aside, I would just *love* it if I were to have reason to start a new thread here entitled "Nasa Dawn Asteroid Mission Told To 'Stand Back Up'...

...this would be your cue, Other Doug!

[mars loon]

YES YES YES





DAWN Re-instated


I heard this also just now from friends at NASA

Finally some well deserved GREAT news for the DAWN TEAM !!!!!


Common Sense has returned

ken

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

I just hope they did it for the right reasons (I missed the teleconference), and not because of political pressure.

[mars loon]

I just hope they did it for the right reasons (I missed the teleconference), and not because of political pressure.

Of course its for the right reasons. technical issues have been addressed. killing it was political and economic nonsense

[Mariner9]

Agreed. While I am very happy to see Dawn come back (or "Stand up" as some wag put it a few days ago) I hope a few things come out of this:

1) A better review process for projects in trouble. Even if Mary Cleave had very good reasons for the decision she made, to testify in front of Congress and mention nothing about this, and go back to the office and give a major mission the ax, tells me the system was a bit broken.

2) A better process for following projects as they go, so that trouble like this is less of a surprise

3) A more conservative approach to Discovery missions in general. Not meaning "do nothing new and interesting" .... rather, select missions with a scope that is managable under the budget cap.

And lastely, while I've more or less resigned myself to no Europa Orbiter in the next ten years, ..... please, please, please let the Discovery 2006 selection actually go through. No new Discovery missions selected in 5 years is insanity.

[climber]

...this would be your cue, Other Doug!

Oh yes ! Down is UP !!! and so we are...
Ding, ding, ding, dawn, dawn, dawn, just missing the music to sing...