Dawn (spacecraft) facts for kids
Illustration of the Dawn spacecraft
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| Mission type | Multi-target orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA / JPL |
| Website | http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/ |
| Mission duration | Planned: 9 years Final: 11 years, 1 month, 5 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences · JPL · UCLA |
| Launch mass | 1,217.7 kg (2,684.6 lb) |
| Dry mass | 747.1 kg (1,647.1 lb) |
| Dimensions | 1.64 × 19.7 × 1.77 m (5.4 × 65 × 5.8 ft) |
| Power | 10,000 watts at 1 AU 1,300 watts at 3 AU |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | September 27, 2007, 11:34 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925H |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Uncontrolled/stable orbit |
| Last contact | 30 October 2018 |
| Flyby of Mars | |
| Closest approach | February 18, 2009, 00:27:58 UTC |
| Distance | 542 km (337 mi) |
| 4 Vesta orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | July 16, 2011, 04:47 UTC |
| Orbital departure | September 5, 2012, 06:26 UTC |
| 1 Ceres orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | March 6, 2015, 12:29 UTC |
 Dawn mission patch Discovery program
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The Dawn spacecraft was an unmanned NASA space probe. It was sent to explore two of the largest objects in the asteroid belt: the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn was the first spacecraft ever to visit Ceres. It was also the first to visit Vesta. What's even cooler is that it was the first spacecraft to orbit two different space objects beyond Earth!
Contents
Why Was Dawn Sent to Space?
Dawn's main goal was to study Vesta and Ceres. Scientists wanted to learn more about how our solar system formed. Vesta and Ceres are like "time capsules" from the early days of the solar system. By studying them, we can understand how planets like Earth came to be.
The Asteroid Belt's Giants
Vesta and Ceres are the two biggest objects in the asteroid belt. This belt is a huge ring of rocks and small worlds between Mars and Jupiter.
- Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt. It is big enough to be called a dwarf planet. It is round like Earth.
- Vesta is the second largest. It is shaped more like a potato. It has a giant crater at its south pole.
Dawn's Amazing Journey
Dawn launched into space on September 27, 2007. It lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A powerful Delta 7925-H rocket carried it.
Flying Past Mars
After launch, Dawn began its long trip. It flew past Mars in February 2009. This flyby was important. Mars's gravity helped "slingshot" Dawn. This gave the spacecraft a speed boost. It saved a lot of fuel for its journey to the asteroid belt.
Orbiting Vesta
Next, Dawn headed for Vesta. It arrived and started orbiting Vesta in July 2011. For over a year, Dawn circled Vesta. It took many pictures and gathered lots of data. This helped scientists learn about Vesta's surface and its history. On September 5, 2012, Dawn left Vesta. It then set off for its next big adventure.
Exploring Ceres
Dawn's final destination was Ceres. It began orbiting Ceres on March 6, 2015. This was a huge moment! No spacecraft had ever visited a dwarf planet before. Dawn spent years studying Ceres. It mapped the surface and looked for signs of water. It even found mysterious bright spots inside craters. These spots are still a puzzle for scientists!
How Dawn Explored Space
Dawn used special tools to study Vesta and Ceres.
- Framing Camera (FC): This camera took high-resolution pictures. It helped map the surfaces of Vesta and Ceres.
- Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR): This tool looked at light. It helped scientists figure out what Vesta and Ceres are made of.
- Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND): This detector looked for elements. It helped find out what kinds of rocks and materials were on the surfaces.
Ion Propulsion
Dawn used a special type of engine called an ion engine. This engine is very fuel-efficient. It uses electricity to push out charged atoms. This creates a gentle but continuous push. It allowed Dawn to travel for many years. It also let Dawn orbit two different space objects.
The End of the Mission
Dawn ran out of fuel in October 2018. It could no longer point its antennas to Earth. This meant it could not send back any more information. The mission officially ended on October 30, 2018. Dawn is now a silent spacecraft. It will continue to orbit Ceres for many, many years. It will be a permanent monument to its amazing journey.
Images for kids
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SERT-1: first ion engine NASA spacecraft; launched on July 20, 1964.
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Scale comparison of Vesta, Ceres, and the Moon
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Dawn image of Ceres from 13,600 km, May 4, 2015
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Framing camera view of the Ceres bright spots
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Dawn prior to encapsulation at its launch pad on July 1, 2007
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Dawn launching on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17 on September 27, 2007
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Greyscale NIR image of Mars (northwest Tempe Terra), taken by Dawn during its 2009 flyby
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High-resolution view of Ceres taken during its Low-Altitude Mapping Orbit
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June 14, 2011 265,000 km (165,000 mi)
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June 24, 2011 152,000 km (94,000 mi)
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July 1, 2011 100,000 km (62,000 mi)
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July 9, 2011 41,000 km (25,000 mi)
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July 17, 2011 16,000 km (9,900 mi)
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July 18, 2011 10,500 km (6,500 mi)
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July 24, 2011 5,200 km (3,200 mi)
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Central Mound at the South Pole on the asteroid Vesta on August 12, 2011
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The snowman shaped craters on Vesta
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Craters and ridges of Vesta
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January 25, 2015 237,000 km (147,000 mi)
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February 4, 2015 145,000 km (90,000 mi)
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February 12, 2015 80,000 km (50,000 mi)
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February 19, 2015 46,000 km (29,000 mi)
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April 23, 2015 1st Map Orbit - RC3 13,600 km (8,500 mi) (view on commons)
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June 6, 2015 2nd Map Orbit - SRVY 4,400 km (2,700 mi) (view on commons)
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August 17, 2015 3rd Map Orbit - HAMO 1,470 km (915 mi) (view on commons)
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December 10, 2015 4th Map Orbit - LAMO 385 km (240 mi) (view on commons)
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October 5, 2016 5th Map Orbit - XMO2 1,480 km (920 mi) (view on commons)
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June 9, 2018 10th Map Orbit - XMO7 35 km (22 mi) (view on commons)
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Map of Ceres feature names
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Topographical map of Ceres
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The first color map of Ceres by Dawn (exaggerated color, March 2015)
See also
In Spanish: Dawn (sonda espacial) para niños
