Launch Archives
Spacecraft: Dawn
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17-B
Launch Date: September 27, 2007
Launch Time: 7:34 a.m. EDT
Dawn Roars off the Pad
Image above: Dawn takes flight on its journey to the asteroid belt. Photo credit: NASA
+ View Hi-Res Image
A Delta II-Heavy propelled the Dawn spacecraft into space on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt. The Delta II was designed to boost medium-sized satellites and robotic explorers into space.
The Delta II-Heavy used for Dawn is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It took three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing protected the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. It fell away from the spacecraft after the rocket reached the upper levels of the atmosphere.
Additional links:
> Watch a Launch
> Launch Locations
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17-B
Launch Date: September 27, 2007
Launch Time: 7:34 a.m. EDT
Dawn Roars off the Pad
Image above: Dawn takes flight on its journey to the asteroid belt. Photo credit: NASA
+ View Hi-Res Image
A Delta II-Heavy propelled the Dawn spacecraft into space on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt. The Delta II was designed to boost medium-sized satellites and robotic explorers into space.
The Delta II-Heavy used for Dawn is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It took three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing protected the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. It fell away from the spacecraft after the rocket reached the upper levels of the atmosphere.
Additional links:
> Watch a Launch
> Launch Locations
Launch Coverage
Launch Control Center
Review the exciting countdown milestones and videos from the Dawn launch.
> Launch Blog
> Launch Team
Review the exciting countdown milestones and videos from the Dawn launch.
> Launch Blog
> Launch Team
Related Multimedia
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Dawn's Mission Begins
See how the Dawn spacecraft and Delta II rocket were readied for launch.
› All Launch Day Videos
› Launch Photos
› View Liftoff Video
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Delta Ready for Dawn
Take look at some of the steps that go into processing the Dawn spacecraft and its Delta II rocket for launch.
› View This Video -
Rocket Science 101
› Build a Rocket
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Launch Services
Why launch anything into space?
› View This Video