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Riding an Ion Drive to the Asteroid Belt

Posted by samzenpus on from the to-infinity-and-beyond dept.

Iron Condor writes "JPL is now close to embarking on another of its trademark, one-of-a-kind missions, this time to the heart of the asteroid belt: The Dawn mission is being prepared for launch this summer from Kennedy Space Center. Dawn will explore Ceres and Vesta, the two largest known asteroids in our solar system, which lie in the vast expanse between Mars and Jupiter. In the process, the mission will make history on several fronts. Besides being the first spacecraft to orbit a main-belt asteroid and the first to ever orbit two targets after leaving Earth, Dawn will be the first science mission powered by electric ion propulsion, the world's most advanced and efficient space propulsion technology."

10 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. We're doomed! by Timberwolf0122 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.

    --
    In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.
    1. Re:We're doomed! by SQLGuru · · Score: 3, Funny

      Never tell me the odds.

      Layne

  2. Re:Not the first ion thruster propelled spacecraft by kickedfortrolling · · Score: 2, Funny

    Perhaps its the first science mission

    we all know deep space 1 was just a NASA trip to get more doritos that got a bit out of hand

    --
    --AlexC
    Just because I dont agree with climate change doesnt make me a troll
  3. TIE Fighters get smashed by joekampf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, look at how those Twin Ion Engine (TIE) Fighters faired in that asteroid belt. Not good.

    --
    When a man lies he murders a part of the world.
  4. Re:Not the first ion thruster propelled spacecraft by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gosh, I hadn't realized Doritos were so popular worldwide!

    --
    My blog
  5. Re:"Electric ions"? by Dystopian+Rebel · · Score: 5, Funny

    To the true geek, it's all Impulse Power.

    Move along, there's no warping to see here.

    --
    Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
  6. Re:Two targets? by TheThiefMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're citing a Hollywood movie as an authoritative source?

    Because those are so good with facts...

  7. You are attempting... by foodnugget · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dawn is attempting to explore Vesta. Cancel or Allow?

  8. Re:Two targets? by RendonWI · · Score: 2, Funny

    "In fact, I was most impressed with the few probes which altered their trajectories in mid-mission to do swing-bys of targets of opportunity. You need flexible fuel provision to do that!" So this thing runs on E85?

  9. Re:"Electric ions"? by Intron · · Score: 4, Funny

    I use Saturn Ion propulsion.

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.