Mission Status Update
- from Chief Engineer/ Mission Director, Marc Rayman (JPL)
2016
April 11 - Dawn Beginning New Ceres Mapping
Dawn is taking pictures and collecting spectra of Ceres. It is now pointing its camera and other instruments slightly ahead and to the left as it circles the dwarf planet. With pictures taken at an angle, scientists will have stereo views so they can construct a more detailed topographical map than they developed in the third mapping orbit. (The
March Dawn Journal and the links there explain the stereo imaging in more detail.)
On April 9-10, Dawn maneuvered with its ion engine to synchronize its orbit with the plan for observing Ceres. (These orbit maintenance maneuvers are described in the
February Dawn Journal.) Then on April 10-11, it pointed its main antenna to Earth to radio its latest observations to the planet where its journey began.
Dawn's main computer is using software controllers installed
five years ago this week,shortly before the spacecraft arrived at Vesta. And exactly
two years earlier, they also loaded new software. (Follow the link to find out how you can get a copy of the software for your own use, or simply put your computer or smartphone in the main asteroid belt, send us the coordinates, and we'll install it for you.)