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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a crane is attached to the shipping container to remove it from around the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd0855

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facil...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a crane is attached to the shipping container to remove it from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the as... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- Two trucks (one air-ride, one flat-bed) deliver the Dawn spacecraft, as well as additional electrical and ground support equipment and xenon ground support equipment, to Astrotech.  Dawn will be moved from the truck and the shipping container removed. The spacecraft will then be moved into the high bay of the Payload Processing Facility.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd0851

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two trucks (one air-ride, one flat-bed)...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two trucks (one air-ride, one flat-bed) deliver the Dawn spacecraft, as well as additional electrical and ground support equipment and xenon ground support equipment, to Astrotech... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers make final checks of the Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower.  The rocket is the launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft, targeted for liftoff on June 30.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.   Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-07pd1314

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers make final checks of the Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower. The rocket is the launch vehicle for the Daw... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a second solid rocket booster is ready to be lifted into the mobile service tower.  It will be attached to the Delta II first stage for the launch of the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1329

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a second solid rocket booster is ready to be lifted into the mobile service tower. It will be attached to the Delta II fi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  Solid rocket boosters arrive on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to be mated to the Delta II rocket waiting there.  The rocket is the launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft, scheduled to launch June 30.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1322

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Solid rocket boosters arrive on Launch ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Solid rocket boosters arrive on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to be mated to the Delta II rocket waiting there. The rocket is the launch vehicle for the Daw... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check data during the loading of xenon for the ion propulsion system in the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The Dawn spacecraft uses ion propulsion to get the additional velocity needed to reach Vesta once it leaves the Delta rocket. It also uses ion propulsion to spiral to lower altitudes on Vesta, to leave Vesta and cruise to Ceres and to spiral to a low-altitude orbit at Ceres. Ion propulsion makes efficient use of the onboard fuel by accelerating it to a velocity 10 times that of chemical rockets.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1387

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check data during the loading of xenon for the ion propulsion system in the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explor... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on display for a media showing.   On each side are the folded solar array panels.  The "box" in the upper center is the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer, which is designed to measure how much radiation of different "colors" is reflected or emitted by an object.  At the bottom, under cover, is one of the ion propulsion thrusters. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1598

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on display for a media showing. On each side are the folded solar array panels. The "box" in the upper center is the visual and infrared map... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers check the movement of the Dawn spacecraft, at left, toward the upper stage booster at right.  The two elements will be mated for launch.   Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1609

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers check the movement...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers check the movement of the Dawn spacecraft, at left, toward the upper stage booster at right. The two elements will be mated for launch. Dawn's goal is to c... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    At Astrotech, technicians move another segment of the lower canister onto the workstand holding the Dawn spacecraft.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle.  The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1640

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move anothe...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move another segment of the lower canister onto the workstand holding the Dawn spacecraft. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    At Astrotech, technicians move the first segment of the lower canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle.  The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1639

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the fi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the first segment of the lower canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be tra... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --     At Astrotech, technicians place another segment of the canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1641

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians place anot...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians place another segment of the canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transport... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --     At Astrotech, technicians move the partially enclosed Dawn spacecraft into another room to complete the canning.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1643

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the p...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the partially enclosed Dawn spacecraft into another room to complete the canning. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Lau... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower.  The spacecraft was clad in a shipping canister for its transport from Astrotech in Titusville, Fla.  The canister will be mated with the Delta II launch vehicle in the tower.  Launch is scheduled for July 7.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-07pd1678

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower. The spacecraft was clad in a ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower.  The spacecraft was clad in a shipping canister for its transport from Astrotech in Titusville, Fla.   The canister will be mated with the Delta II launch vehicle in the tower.  Launch is scheduled for July 7.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-07pd1675

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower. The spacecraft was clad in a s... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- At Astrotech, the shipping container holding the Dawn spacecraft is moved into the high bay of the Payload Processing Facility.  The spacecraft will next be removed from the container.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd0854

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the shipping container ho...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the shipping container holding the Dawn spacecraft is moved into the high bay of the Payload Processing Facility. The spacecraft will next be removed from the conta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare to deploy the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft.  The panels will be tested and undergo black light inspection. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1244

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare to deploy the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft. The panels will be tested and undergo black light inspection. Dawn's mission is ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   In a clean room at Astrotech, workers begin checking the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft.  The panels will also undergo black light inspection. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1247

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers begin checking the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft. The panels will also undergo black light inspection. Dawn's mission is to explore t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   In a clean room at Astrotech, workers deploy the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft.  The panels will be tested and undergo black light inspection.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1245

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers deploy the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft. The panels will be tested and undergo black light inspection. Dawn's mission is to explore... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for installation of its solar array panels.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.    Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1260

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers pr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for installation of its solar array panels. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intrigui... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers get ready to test deploy the large solar array panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1264

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers get ready to test ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers get ready to test deploy the large solar array panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intrig... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping container, is moved out of the Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility for transfer to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1302

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping container, is moved out of the Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility for transfer to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians are securing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft.   Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed over the sensitive antenna to reflect and emit harmful solar radiation to prevent the antenna from being excessively heated.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1593

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians are securing t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians are securing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft. Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed ov... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --     At Astrotech, technicians examine the lower canister they placed around the bottom of the Dawn spacecraft.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1642

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians examine th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians examine the lower canister they placed around the bottom of the Dawn spacecraft. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pa... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers prepare NASA's Dawn spacecraft mated to the Delta II upper stage booster, for hoisting up into the mobile service tower.  Dawn will be mated with the Delta II launch vehicle.   Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder. KSC-07pd1658

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers prepare NASA's Dawn spacecraft mated to the Delta II upper stage booster, for hoisting up into the mobile service ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At the top of Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers help to guide NASA’s Dawn spacecraft into position for stacking with the Delta II launch vehicle. Launch is scheduled for July 7.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder. KSC-07pd1660

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the top of Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the top of Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers help to guide NASA’s Dawn spacecraft into position for stacking with the Delta II launch vehicle. Launc... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  NASA's Dawn spacecraft moves out of the Astrotech facility in Titusville, Fla., for transportation to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and mate to the Delta II launch vehicle.  Launch is scheduled for July 7. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder. KSC-07pd1654

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft moves out of the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft moves out of the Astrotech facility in Titusville, Fla., for transportation to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and mate to the Delta II... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —  On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers separate the Dawn spacecraft from the Delta II second stage.  Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload processing facility to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15.    Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd2054

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers separate the Dawn spacecraft from the Delta II second stage. Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload processing fa... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for mating with the waiting Delta II rocket. Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. EDT Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2445

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the mobile service tower on Launch P...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for mating with the waiting Delta II rocket. Dawn is scheduled for... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Nearly enveloped by the smoke after ignition, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rises from the smoke and fire on the launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile journey through the inner solar system to study a pair of asteroids.    Liftoff was at 7:34 a.m. EDT from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph & Rafael Hernandez KSC-07pd2592

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Nearly enveloped by the smoke after igni...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Nearly enveloped by the smoke after ignition, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rises from the smoke and fire on the launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile jour... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket with the Dawn spacecraft on top waits in the early morning light for launch.  Liftoff was at 7:34 a.m. EDT from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2584

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket with the Dawn spacec...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket with the Dawn spacecraft on top waits in the early morning light for launch. Liftoff was at 7:34 a.m. EDT from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. D... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunrise, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rose from its launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile journey through the inner solar system to study a pair of asteroids.  Liftoff was at 7:34 a.m. EDT from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Robert Murray KSC-07pd2587

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunrise, the Delta II rocket ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunrise, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rose from its launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile journey through the inner solar system to study a pai... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In a clean room at Astrotech, workers begin black light testing on the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1249

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers b...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers begin black light testing on the solar panels of the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguin... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   At Astrotech, two Dutch technicians examine the Dawn spacecraft after deployment of the solar panels on one side.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1268A

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, two Dutch technicians ex...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, two Dutch technicians examine the Dawn spacecraft after deployment of the solar panels on one side. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket fr... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    At Astrotech, workers move equipment holding a set of solar array panels.  The panels will be installed on the Dawn spacecraft.  Another set was installed previously.  Together, the panels extend 64.6 feet when fully open. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1276

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers move equipment ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers move equipment holding a set of solar array panels. The panels will be installed on the Dawn spacecraft. Another set was installed previously. Together,... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Astrotech, a suspended set of solar array panels is opened prior to installation on the Dawn spacecraft.  Another set was installed previously. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1279

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, a suspended set of solar ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, a suspended set of solar array panels is opened prior to installation on the Dawn spacecraft. Another set was installed previously. Dawn is scheduled to launch June... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, a technician monitors the loading of xenon for the ion propulsion system in the Dawn spacecraft.   Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The Dawn spacecraft uses ion propulsion to get the additional velocity needed to reach Vesta once it leaves the Delta rocket. It also uses ion propulsion to spiral to lower altitudes on Vesta, to leave Vesta and cruise to Ceres and to spiral to a low-altitude orbit at Ceres. Ion propulsion makes efficient use of the onboard fuel by accelerating it to a velocity 10 times that of chemical rockets.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1384

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, a technician monitors the loading of xenon for the ion propulsion system in the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two o... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for spin-balance testing.  After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft transportation canister for the trip to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the Delta II rocket at Launch Pad 17-B. The Dawn spacecraft will employ ion propulsion to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail these largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations. Ceres and Vesta reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1508

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is r...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for spin-balance testing. After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft transportati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  Technicians at Astrotech prepare the Dawn spacecraft for spin-balance testing. After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft transportation canister for the trip to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the Delta II rocket at Launch Pad 17-B. The Dawn spacecraft will employ ion propulsion to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail these largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations. Ceres and Vesta reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1505

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Technicians at Astrotech prepare the Da...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Technicians at Astrotech prepare the Dawn spacecraft for spin-balance testing. After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft tran... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians begin securing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft.   Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed over the sensitive antenna to reflect and emit harmful solar radiation to prevent the antenna from being excessively heated.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1592

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians begin securing...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians begin securing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft. Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in clean-room suits are able to shoot the Dawn spacecraft in its entirety before it is prepared for launch.  Seen on each side are the folded solar array panels. At the top is the high gain antenna, covered by a sun shade.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1601

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in c...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in clean-room suits are able to shoot the Dawn spacecraft in its entirety before it is prepared for launch. Seen on each side are the folded so... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the upper stage booster waits at right for mating to the Dawn spacecraft at left.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1608

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the upper stage booster wa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the upper stage booster waits at right for mating to the Dawn spacecraft at left. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Statio... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    At Astrotech, technicians move the first segment of the lower canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft.  When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be transported to Launch Pad 17-B and lifted into the mobile service tower for mating with the Delta II launch vehicle. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1638

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the fi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians move the first segment of the lower canister around the upper stage booster below the Dawn spacecraft. When enclosed in the canister, Dawn will be tra... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers attach a crane to NASA's Dawn spacecraft. It will be lifted into the mobile service tower for mating to the Delta II launch vehicle.Launch is scheduled for July 7. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder. KSC-07pd1656

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 17-B, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers attach a crane to NASA's Dawn spacecraft. It will be lifted into the mobile service tower for mating to the Delta ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers check the fitting on the lower transportation canister segments in place around the upper stage booster beneath the Dawn spacecraft.  The canister will protect the spacecraft and booster during transfer to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Launch via a Delta II rocket is scheduled in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2404

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusvi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers check the fitting on the lower transportation canister segments in place around the upper stage booster beneath the Dawn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lifted off its transporter.  Dawn will be lifted into the mobile service tower and prepared for mating with the awaiting Delta II rocket.Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd2425

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lifted off its transporter. Dawn will be lifted into the mobile service tower and prepared for mati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers in the mobile service tower keep watch as the Dawn spacecraft is lowered toward the awaiting Delta II rocket.  Dawn will be mated with the Delta in preparation for launch.  Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd2431

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers in the mobile service tower keep watch as the Dawn spacecraft is lowered toward the awaiting Delta II rocket. Dawn... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    In the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the lower segments of the transportation canister away from the Dawn spacecraft.  After removal of the canister, Dawn will be mated with the waiting Delta II rocket.  Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. EDT Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2444

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the mobile service tower on Launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the lower segments of the transportation canister away from the Dawn spacecraf... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket is revealed as the mobile service tower, or gantry (at right), is retracted on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Starting with a boost from this higher thrust version of the Delta II rocket, the Dawn spacecraft will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission during its nearly decade-long mission, Dawn will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies. In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field, and thus, bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed.  Launch is targeted for Sept. 27 during a window that extends from 7:20 to 7:49 a.m. EDT.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2578

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket is revealed as the m...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket is revealed as the mobile service tower, or gantry (at right), is retracted on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Starting with a boost from th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a crane lifts the shipping container from the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd0856

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facil...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a crane lifts the shipping container from the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  --  In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians help secure the Dawn spacecraft onto a moveable stand.  Dawn will be moved into clean room C for unbagging and further processing.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd0859

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Faci...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians help secure the Dawn spacecraft onto a moveable stand. Dawn will be moved into clean room C for unbagging and further pro... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a  worker guides a transporter into place to receive the Delta II first stage.  The Delta will be moved to the launch pad.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1216

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a worker guides a transporter into place to receive the Delta II first stage. The Delta will be moved to the launch pad. Dawn's... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  After its successful transfer to a transporter, the Delta II first stage is ready to move out of Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1220

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its successful transfer to a tran...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its successful transfer to a transporter, the Delta II first stage is ready to move out of Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for thermal blanket installation. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1243

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for thermal blanket installation. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and di... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the first stage of a Delta II rocket is ready for raising to a vertical position.  Once vertical, the rocket will be lifted up into the mobile service tower.  The rocket is the launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft, targeted for liftoff on June 30. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.   Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-07pd1309

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the first stage of a Delta II rocket is ready for raising to a vertical position. Once vertical, the rocket will be lifted... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the shipping container is removed from around the Dawn spacecraft.   Dawn will be moved to a scale for weighing and then prepared for fueling.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1303

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the shipping container is removed from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to a scale for weighing and then prepared ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians secure the dolly holding the Dawn spacecraft so Dawn can be lifted safely and transferred to a transporter.  Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1297

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facili...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians secure the dolly holding the Dawn spacecraft so Dawn can be lifted safely and transferred to a transporter. Dawn will be mo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The mobile service towers on Launch Pads 17-A (left) and 17-B (right) are silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In the background are the launch gantries.  Pad 17-B is the site for the launch of the Dawn spacecraft on June 30.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.   Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-07pd1307

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The mobile service towers on Launch Pads...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The mobile service towers on Launch Pads 17-A (left) and 17-B (right) are silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In the background are the launch... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in clean-room suits are able to shoot the Dawn spacecraft in its entirety before it is prepared for launch.  Seen on each side are the folded solar array panels.  At the top on the near side is the "box," containing the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer, which is designed to measure how much radiation of different "colors" is reflected or emitted by an object. Above it are the framing cameras, which are the scientific imaging system of the Dawn Mission.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1603

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in c...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, photographers dressed in clean-room suits are able to shoot the Dawn spacecraft in its entirety before it is prepared for launch. Seen on each side are the folded so... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers help guide an overhead crane to be attached to the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be lifted from its stand, moved and then mated to the upper stage booster for launch. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1604

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers help guide an over...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers help guide an overhead crane to be attached to the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be lifted from its stand, moved and then mated to the upper stage booster for la... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower.  The spacecraft was clad in a shipping canister for its transport from Astrotech in Titusville, Fla.  The canister will be mated with the Delta II launch vehicle in the tower.  Launch is scheduled for July 7.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA’s Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-07pd1677

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers remove the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower. The spacecraft was clad in a s... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —  On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lowered from the mobile service tower to the ground. Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload processing facility to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd2058

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lowered from the mobile service tower to the ground. Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload process... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —  Still on its transporter, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for removal of its canister at the Astrotech payload processing facility.   Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.  NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2064

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Still on its transporter, the Dawn space...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Still on its transporter, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for removal of its canister at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Ca... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers guide the upper transportation canister as it is lowered onto the Dawn spacecraft.  The canister will be attached to the bottom segments already in place.  The canister will protect the spacecraft and booster during transfer to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Launch via a Delta II rocket is scheduled in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2406

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusvi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers guide the upper transportation canister as it is lowered onto the Dawn spacecraft. The canister will be attached to the ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is moved toward the opening above the Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower.  Dawn will be mated with the Delta in preparation for launch.    Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd2429

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is moved toward the opening above the Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower. Dawn will be mated... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A worker monitors the progress of the retraction of the mobile service tower, or gantry, from the Delta II rocket on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Starting with a boost from this higher thrust version of the Delta II rocket, the Dawn spacecraft will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission during its nearly decade-long mission, Dawn will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies. In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field, and thus, bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed.  Launch is targeted for Sept. 27 during a window that extends from 7:20 to 7:49 a.m. EDT.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2579

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A worker monitors the progress of the re...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A worker monitors the progress of the retraction of the mobile service tower, or gantry, from the Delta II rocket on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Starting w... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Against a backdrop of clouds on the horizon, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rises from the smoke and fire on the launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile journey through the inner solar system to study a pair of asteroids.  Liftoff was at 7:34 a.m. EDT from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph & Rafael Hernandez KSC-07pd2591

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Against a backdrop of clouds on the hori...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Against a backdrop of clouds on the horizon, the Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Dawn spacecraft rises from the smoke and fire on the launch pad to begin its 1.7-billion-mile journ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a worker wears a "bunny suit," or clean-room attire, next to the Dawn spacecraft, which will be unbagged and undergo further processing.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd0861

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, a worker wears a "bunny suit," or clean-room attire, next to the Dawn spacecraft, which will be unbagged and undergo fu... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  In Hangar A&O at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Delta II second stage for the Dawn spacecraft is ready for transfer to the launch pad. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1227

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Hangar A&O at Cape Canaveral Air For...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Hangar A&O at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Delta II second stage for the Dawn spacecraft is ready for transfer to the launch pad. Dawn's mission is to explore two of t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft, secure on a work stand, is moved to another room for solar panel installation.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.    Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1257

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, the Dawn s...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft, secure on a work stand, is moved to another room for solar panel installation. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers fold the large solar array panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft.  The panels will be tested for deployment and stowage.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1263

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers fold the large sol...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers fold the large solar array panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft. The panels will be tested for deployment and stowage. Dawn's mission is to explore two... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Astrotech, the more than 32-foot-long solar panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft are fully deployed during a test. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1268

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the more than 32-foot-lon...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the more than 32-foot-long solar panels on one side of the Dawn spacecraft are fully deployed during a test. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a second solid rocket booster arrives under the mobile service tower.  It will join the first, seen above, and be attached to the Delta II first stage for the launch of the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1328

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a second solid rocket booster arrives under the mobile service tower. It will join the first, seen above, and be attached... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a third solid rocket booster is raised to a vertical position.  It will be lifted into the mobile service tower for attachment around the Delta II first stage.  The SRB is one of nine to be attached for the launch of the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1332

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a third solid rocket booster is raised to a vertical position. It will be lifted into the mobile service tower for attachm... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians are loading the Dawn spacecraft with xenon gas for the ion propulsion system.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The Dawn spacecraft uses ion propulsion to get the additional velocity needed to reach Vesta once it leaves the Delta rocket. It also uses ion propulsion to spiral to lower altitudes on Vesta, to leave Vesta and cruise to Ceres and to spiral to a low-altitude orbit at Ceres. Ion propulsion makes efficient use of the onboard fuel by accelerating it to a velocity 10 times that of chemical rockets.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1388

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians are loading the Dawn spacecraft with xenon gas for the ion propulsion system. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the as... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, a technician checks the connections for loading the Dawn spacecraft with xenon gas for the ion propulsion system. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The Dawn spacecraft uses ion propulsion to get the additional velocity needed to reach Vesta once it leaves the Delta rocket. It also uses ion propulsion to spiral to lower altitudes on Vesta, to leave Vesta and cruise to Ceres and to spiral to a low-altitude orbit at Ceres. Ion propulsion makes efficient use of the onboard fuel by accelerating it to a velocity 10 times that of chemical rockets.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1390

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, a technician checks the connections for loading the Dawn spacecraft with xenon gas for the ion propulsion system. Dawn's mission is t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   At Astrotech, technicians lift the sun shade to be installed over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft.   Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed over the sensitive antenna to reflect and emit harmful solar radiation to prevent the antenna from being excessively heated.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1589

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians lift the sun...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians lift the sun shade to be installed over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft. Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, an overhead crane moves the Dawn spacecraft across the floor toward the upper stage booster for mating.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1607

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, an overhead crane moves th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, an overhead crane moves the Dawn spacecraft across the floor toward the upper stage booster for mating. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Cana... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers complete removing the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower.  The spacecraft was clad in a shipping canister for its transport from Astrotech in Titusville, Fla.  The canister will be mated with the Delta II launch vehicle in the tower.  Launch is scheduled for July 7.  Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA's first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-07pd1679

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers complete removing the canister surrounding NASA's Dawn spacecraft in the mobile service tower. The spacecraft was... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —   At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers separate the upper and lower canisters around the Dawn spacecraft.   Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.  NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2065

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers separate the upper and lower canisters around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —   At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers remove the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.  NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2069

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers remove the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Forc... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. —  On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft has been separated from the Delta II second stage.  Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload processing facility to await a new launch date.  The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15.    Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres,  during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines.   NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd2055

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — On Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft has been separated from the Delta II second stage. Dawn is being returned to the Astrotech payload processing ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers move the platform with the Dawn spacecraft.  They are preparing to install the transportation canister around Dawn for transfer to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Launch via a Delta II rocket is scheduled in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2401

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusvi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers move the platform with the Dawn spacecraft. They are preparing to install the transportation canister around Dawn for tr... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers ensure the upper transportation canister is securely attached to the lower segments.  The canister will protect the spacecraft and booster during transfer to Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Launch via a Delta II rocket is scheduled in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd2408

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusvi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers ensure the upper transportation canister is securely attached to the lower segments. The canister will protect the space... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lowered toward the awaiting Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower.  Dawn will be mated with the Delta in preparation for launch.    Dawn is scheduled for launch in a window from 7:25 to 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 from CCAFS.  During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission, the Dawn spacecraft will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies.  In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field and thus bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd2430

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Dawn spacecraft is lowered toward the awaiting Delta II rocket in the mobile service tower. Dawn will be mated with th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket stands ready for launch following rollback of the mobile service tower, or gantry, on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Starting with a boost from this higher thrust version of the Delta II rocket, the Dawn spacecraft will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. To carry out its scientific mission during its nearly decade-long mission, Dawn will carry a visible camera, a visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, whose data will be used in combination to characterize these bodies. In addition to the three instruments, radiometric and optical navigation data will provide data relating to the gravity field, and thus, bulk properties and internal structure of the two bodies. Data returned from the Dawn spacecraft could provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in our knowledge of how the solar system formed.  Launch is targeted for Sept. 27 during a window that extends from 7:20 to 7:49 a.m. EDT.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2581

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket stands ready for lau...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Delta II rocket stands ready for launch following rollback of the mobile service tower, or gantry, on Launch Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Starting with a boost... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- At Astrotech, the shipping container holding the Dawn spacecraft is removed from the truck.  The container will then be moved into the high bay of the Payload Processing Facility and the spacecraft removed.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd0852

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the shipping container ho...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the shipping container holding the Dawn spacecraft is removed from the truck. The container will then be moved into the high bay of the Payload Processing Facility ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  --  In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians roll the Dawn spacecraft into clean room C for unbagging and further processing. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd0860

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Faci...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians roll the Dawn spacecraft into clean room C for unbagging and further processing. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the a... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.  -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians dressed in "bunny suits," or clean-room attire, begin working on the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Dawn mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd0865

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In clean room C of Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians dressed in "bunny suits," or clean-room attire, begin working on the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn's mission is to ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  Inside Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,  Larry Penepent, manager of Launch Operations Engineering with United Launch Alliance, oversees the transfer of the Delta II first stage onto a transporter.  The Delta will be moved to the launch pad.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1219

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air F...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Hangar M on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Larry Penepent, manager of Launch Operations Engineering with United Launch Alliance, oversees the transfer of the Delta II f... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for thermal blanket installation. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 from Launch Complex 17-B.    Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1242

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a clean room at Astrotech, workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for thermal blanket installation. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and di... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --    At Astrotech, workers (in the background) secure a crane onto a set of solar array panels that will be installed on the Dawn spacecraft, at right.  Another set was installed previously. Together, the panels extend 64.6 feet when fully open.Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.   Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1277

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers (in the backgro...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, workers (in the background) secure a crane onto a set of solar array panels that will be installed on the Dawn spacecraft, at right. Another set was installed pre... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the shipping container as it is lowered around the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1301

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facilit...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the shipping container as it is lowered around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardou... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers prepare the solid rocket booster to be raised off the transporter.  The SRB is one of nine to be mated to the Delta II rocket that will launch the Dawn spacecraft.  Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd1323

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers prepare the solid rocket booster to be raised off the transporter. The SRB is one of nine to be mated to the Delta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   Technicians at Astrotech check the Dawn spacecraft before spin-balance testing.  After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft transportation canister for the trip to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the Delta II rocket at Launch Pad 17-B.The Dawn spacecraft will employ ion propulsion to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail these largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations. Ceres and Vesta reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt. Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1507

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Technicians at Astrotech check the Daw...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Technicians at Astrotech check the Dawn spacecraft before spin-balance testing. After the test, Dawn will then be mated to the upper stage booster, installed into a spacecraft t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft is lowered into the hole toward the Delta first stage below.  The two stages will be mated. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1514

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft is lowered into the hole toward the Delta first sta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft arrives at the upper level of the mobile service tower.  It will be moved inside the tower and mated with the first stage already in the tower. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1513

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft arrives at the upper level of the mobile service to... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers maneuver the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle onto the first stage for mating.   The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1515

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Ai...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers maneuver the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle onto the first stage for mating. The Delta II-Heavy, man... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   The second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft is lifted alongside the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  It will be mated with the first stage already in the tower. The Delta II-Heavy, manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to launch the Dawn spacecraft on its 4-year flight to the asteroid belt.  The Delta II-Heavy is the strongest rocket in the Delta II class. It will use three stages and nine solid-fueled booster rockets to propel Dawn on its way. A 9.5-foot payload fairing will protect the spacecraft from the heat and stresses of launch. Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-07pd1510

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The second stage of the Delta II launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Dawn spacecraft is lifted alongside the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It w... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  At Astrotech, technicians begin placing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft.   Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed over the sensitive antenna to reflect and emit harmful solar radiation to prevent the antenna from being excessively heated.  Dawn is scheduled to launch July 7 from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-07pd1591

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians begin placing...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, technicians begin placing the sun shade over the high gain antenna on the Dawn spacecraft. Made of germanium kapton, the shade, which is RF transparent, is placed ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on display for a media showing.  On each side are the folded solar array panels. At the top is the high gain antenna, covered by a sun shade.  At the bottom, also under cover, is one of the ion propulsion thrusters. Behind the antenna on the outside edge are the framing cameras.  Dawn's goal is to characterize the conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating in detail the largest protoplanets that have remained intact since their formations: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.  They reside in the extensive zone between Mars and Jupiter together with many other smaller bodies, called the asteroid belt.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1599

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech, the Dawn spacecraft is on display for a media showing. On each side are the folded solar array panels. At the top is the high gain antenna, covered by a sun shade. ... More

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