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Dawn probe will explore the dwarf planet Ceres

11.04.2015

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced the status of the Dawn mission to study the dwarf planet Ceres.

The Dawn probe, launched in September 2007, will be the first spacecraft in history to explore two space objects in the solar system while in their orbits. In 2011-2012 this automatic interplanetary station has already studied the asteroid Vesta, and earlier this year reached its second goal - the planet Ceres, which is located in the asteroid belt.

Currently, Dawn, relying on its engines and the gravity of Ceres, is gradually approaching the dwarf planet to enter a circular orbit. NASA emphasizes that all systems of the apparatus are fully operational, and scientific instruments are ready to perform their tasks.

Now the probe is located approximately 42 thousand km above the surface of Ceres. The main scientific program will begin when the distance is reduced to 13,5 thousand km - reaching this height is scheduled for April 23.

As it descends, the station will send higher and higher resolution images of the planet to Earth. By analyzing them, the researchers hope to unravel the nature of the mysterious bright spots on the surface of the object, which were discovered in February.

On May 9, 2015, the completion of the first phase of the scientific program is scheduled, after which Dawn will move to a lower orbit for further exploration of Ceres.

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American startup Astroforge wants to become the first company on Earth to master the mining of minerals in space.

The startup, which has just emerged from stealth mode, is working on a technology to extract resources from asteroids with a diameter of 20 meters to 1,5 kilometers, according to TechCrunch. How exactly this system will work is still unknown, but Astroforge promises to demonstrate it in low Earth orbit as early as 2023 and to arrange the supply of minerals from space before the end of this decade.

The startup was founded by two former SpaceX, NASA and Virgin Orbit engineers - Matt Gialich and Jose Acain - and recently completed the Y Combinator acceleration program. Immediately after leaving the business incubator, Astroforge received $13 million in seed investment to develop its project. Entrepreneurs believe that they can solve a problem that has not yet been given to any aerospace company, and in the foreseeable future they will offer humanity an unlimited source of resources. To do this, Astroforge has already enlisted the support of several large organizations.

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