 |  | | | | Dawn Spacecraft Successfully Launched
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09.27.07
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Dawn spacecraft began its 3 billion
kilometer (1.7 billion mile) journey through the inner solar system
to study a pair of asteroids Thursday at 7:34 a.m. Eastern Time
(4:34 a.m. Pacific Time).
The Delta 2 rocket, fitted with nine strap-on solid-fuel boosters,
safely climbed away from the Florida coastline and launch complex 17B
at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. "We have our time machine up
and flying," said Dawn Principal Investigator Christopher Russell of
the University of California, Los Angeles.
 Image right: The Dawn spacecraft launched successfully from the launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Image credit: NASA TV
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Dawn is scheduled to begin its exploration of Vesta in 2011 and Ceres
in 2015. The two icons of the asteroid belt are located in orbit between
Mars and Jupiter and have been witness to so much of our solar system's history.
By using the same set of instruments at two separate destinations,
scientists can more accurately formulate comparisons and contrasts. Dawn's
science instrument suite will measure shape, surface topography and tectonic
history, elemental and mineral composition as well as seek out water-bearing minerals.
A critical milestone for the spacecraft comes in acquiring its signal. The launch
team expects that to occur in approximately 2-3 hours.
For the latest information about Dawn and its mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/dawn
Media contacts: Dwayne Brown
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
DC Agle
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-393-9011/818-354-5011
2007-110
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