JPL Scientists Use Dawn Spacecraft’s Ion Propulsion to Lift Into Higher Orbit Around Ceres

Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which sent spacecraft Dawn to study Ceres in 2007, is set to reposition the probe to get different angles of the mysterious dwarf planet that lies in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

After eight months of observing Ceres from a low altitude and obtaining its cache of images and data, scientists decided to examine the planet from higher up, a feat that can be accomplished due to Dawn’s unique properties.

“Most spacecraft wouldn’t be able to change their orbital altitude so easily. But thanks to Dawn’s uniquely capable ion propulsion system, we can maneuver the ship to get the greatest scientific return from the mission,” said Marc Rayman, chief engineer and mission director, in a statement released to the media by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

According to the statement, Dawn will begin spiraling upward until its about 910 miles from Ceres so it can get a different view of its surface. A key reason for this switch is Dawn’s lifetime, which is linked with hydrazine, a chemical propellant needed both to orient the spacecraft and communicate with Earth. By going higher, Dawn will use its remaining hydrazine in a more efficient matter, prolonging its lifespan, because it won’t have to work as hard to counteract Ceres’ gravitational tug.

Ceres, one of many minor planets in our solar system, has a barren asteroid-like surface, an icy mantle and orbits the sun once every 4.6 Earth years. It was first discovered in 1772 by Johann Elert Bode, who suggested that an unknown planet may lie between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

For a more information, visit http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission

More information about Dawn is available at http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov