> > On July 16, DAWN will enter a circum-Vestan orbit at > an altitude of 9,600 miles above Vesta. Its altitude will > be lowered progressively once the orbit has been tweaked > to the precise parameters needed. Vesta is not a "sphere," > so orbiting its center of gravity causes your distance from > its surface to vary like you were on a roller coaster. Give > it plenty of room; don't want to clip the asteroid, ya know... > It's a long way to the nearest body shop. > >
Don't forget we've already have experience orbiting an asteroid... and even landed a spacecraft on an asteroid. ie: NEAR-Shoemaker on Eros. Ron ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
