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Ion Engine Thruster Gimbal
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08/11/2006
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| An ion engine thruster gimbal based upon an Alliance-developed configuration
will fly aboard NASA’s Dawn asteroid mission. The unique two-axis
gimbal was developed to replace a much more massive conventional gimbal
that flew on the Deep Space 1 spacecraft and weighed in excess of 17 kilograms;
the new gimbal weighs less than 3.5 kilograms to support a 7-kilogram engine. Two
rotary actuators drive composite struts with rod end-bearings mounted in
a hexapod configuration. Ion propulsion will provide Dawn with the
additional velocity needed to reach and orbit its targets, the two large
asteroids Vesta and Ceres. |
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Last Updated ( 08/20/2006 )
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