[meteorite-list] Dawn Journal - May 3, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

> 
> 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