The NASA Dawn spacecraft mission is studying conditions and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch by investigating two protoplanets remaining intact since their formations, Ceres and Vesta. Launch was in 2007. Ion propulsion is used to fly to and enter orbit around Vesta, depart Vesta and fly to Ceres, and enter orbit around Ceres. A conventional blowdown hydrazine reaction control system (RCS) is used to provide external torques for attitude control. Reaction wheel assemblies were intended to provide attitude control in most cases. However, the spacecraft experienced one, then two apparent failures of reaction wheels. Also, similar thrusters experienced degradation in a long life application on another spacecraft. Those factors led to RCS being operated in ways completely different than anticipated prior to launch. Numerous mitigations and developments needed to be implemented. The Vesta mission was fully successful. Even with the compromises necessary due to those anomalies, the Ceres mission is also projected to be feasible.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Dawn Spacecraft Reaction Control System Flight Experience


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference ; 2014 ; Cleveland, OH, United States


    Publication date :

    2014-07-28


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Straight on 'Til Morning: Guidance and Control Flight Experience from the Dawn Spacecraft (AAS 10-087)

    Vanelli, C.A. / Smith, B. / Swenka, E. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010


    Dawn Spacecraft Dataset

    Spacecraft, Dawn | DataCite | 2024


    Dawn Spacecraft Test Anomaly

    Tucker, Shonte | NTRS | 2021


    Final Dawn Reaction Control System (RCS) propulsion system in-flight characterization

    Mizukami, Masashi / Nakazono, Barry / Barber, Todd J. | NTRS | 2019


    Final Dawn Reaction Control System (RCS) propulsion system in-flight characterization

    Mizukami, Masashi / Nakazono, Barry / Barber, Todd J. | NTRS | 2019