What has given birth to our solar system? In a hunt for clues to it, the need to explore an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter has been zeroed-in. This is what the NASA scientists felt and is all set to launch the Dawn spacecraft tomorrow from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Keeping their fingers crossed, the scientists are all optimistic with their goal, once the launch goes successful. And, with it, the Dawn will be the first robotic probe to be placed into orbit around two different bodies!
The spacecraft’s extremely efficient electric engine will be powered by xenon gas. Dawn will be eying for the two of the largest bodies in the asteroid belt — Vesta and Ceres.
Scientists hold on to the fact that it holds all answers to the solar system’s formation.
Carried by an unmanned rocket — Delta 2 — the spacecraft will be placed to orbit around Earth to let it unfold its 65-foot (19.7 meter) solar wing panels, firing up one of its three ion engines for the four-year trip to Vesta.
Hope, our school text books will soon see the changed version of the solar system’s formation and origin.
