Planned trajectory of the Dawn craft
Dawn Mission Timeline Sep. 27, 2007- Launch February 2009- Mars Gravity Assist August 2011- Vesta arrival May 2012- Vesta Departure February 2015- Ceres arrival July 2015- End of primary mission Notable Dates so far during Mission Sep. 27, 2007- launch Dec. 17-21, 2007- Interplanetary cruise begins April 30, 2008- Special activities conducted -Gamma ray and neutron detector (GRaND) operated for a week to ollect data to Compensate for “noise” caused by cosmic rays when GRaND is operated at Vesta and Ceres Aug. 8, 2008- Reached greatest distance from the sun for 2008. -1.68 AU Oct. 31, 2008- Completes almost all of thrusting necessary for 2008 Nov. 20, 2008- Dawn on course for Mars gravity assist
Location as of December 4, 2008