LAMO, aka Low Altitude Mapping Orbit Options

[dilo]

Further update:

The first engine stop, on July 31, lasted less than 15 hours and, after this, energy increase was very regular.

[dilo]

The second engine stop, on Aug 2-4, was longer (between 30 and 45 hours) and, probably, was used to map the northern emisphere; in fact Dawn flied twice above North Pole at an estimated height of 1450 km (considering Vesta shape).
Herebelow last two "revealing shadow" processed images, from Caparronia and Floronia quadrangles, respectively:

[machi]

Very interesting color image of the "Snowman" region on the asteroid Vesta:

[Phil Stooke]

http://pds-smallbodies.astro.umd.edu/data_...ase_sched.shtml

According to this data release schedule, we should get raw approach and HAMO data soon at PDS. But the arguments over coordinate systems may delay this a bit.

Phil

[lyford]

More reaction wheel problems:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/new...wn20120813.html

During a planned communications pass on Aug. 9, the team learned that the reaction wheel had been powered off. Telemetry data from the spacecraft suggest the wheel developed excessive friction, similar to the experience with another Dawn reaction wheel in June 2010. The Dawn team demonstrated during the cruise to Vesta in 2011 that, if necessary, they could complete the cruise to Ceres without the use of reaction wheels.

[TheAnt]

Yes I got that from this news source.

Now that they are optimistic about getting over to Ceres without reaction wheels, I cant shrug off the thought that the pointing for instruments and camera will be affected.

Anyhow since that Dawn is in the departure phase, perhaps it is time to start a 'Cruising to Ceres' thread. =)

[stevesliva]

Are there only two wheels?

[djellison]

Two fully functioning left of the 4 functioning at launch.

[stevesliva]

There are some new captioned releases here:
http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/vesta_dawn_gallery.asp

... and I can't seem to see that they relate to any new paper or conference release.