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Space & Planetary Science

Dawn Loses Another Reaction Wheel

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
August 14, 2012
Filed under

NASA Dawn Mission Status Report 14 August 2012
“During a planned communications pass on Aug. 9, the team learned that the reaction wheel had been powered off. Telemetry data from the spacecraft suggest the wheel developed excessive friction, similar to the experience with another Dawn reaction wheel in June 2010. The Dawn team demonstrated during the cruise to Vesta in 2011 that, if necessary, they could complete the cruise to Ceres without the use of reaction wheels.”

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3 responses to “Dawn Loses Another Reaction Wheel”

  1. Ken Hampton says:
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    Besides providing 11 km/s of post-launch delta-V to the spacecraft, I guess the ion propulsion system will just have to take on more of the attitude control functions.

    • AnonymousFourEyedCoward says:
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       No, the RCS system will take on the attitude control functions either alone (as done in the late stages of the cruise to Vesta) or in a hybrid mode with the two remaining wheels.

  2. Stuart J. Gray says:
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    What is it with reaction wheels?!?

    How hard is it to make bearings that can take launch vibration??
    Stardust accomplished it’s entire mission without any reaction wheels.
    Just send more fuel, it doesnt go bad.