18, 1999, NASA formulated an extended mission. Once the successful primary mission was over by Sept. DS1 found Braille to be 1.4 miles (2.2 kilometers) at its longest and 0.62 miles (1 kilometer) at its shortest. The few images returned from very long range were out of focus, although other data was useful. These difficulties prevented a closer encounter, originally planned at a range of about 790 feet (240 meters). The mission tested its payload extensively to ensure that future users of such technologies would not take on unnecessary risks.ĭS1 passed the near-Earth asteroid 9660 Braille at 04:46 UT July 29, 1999, at a range of about 16 miles (26 kilometers) and at a velocity of about 10 miles per second (15.5 kilometers per second).Īlthough it was the closest asteroid flyby to date, it was only partially successful due to a problem that compromised data delivered to the onboard navigational system. This time, the engine ran continuously for 14 days and demonstrated a specific impulse of 3,100 seconds, as much as 10 times higher than possible with conventional chemical propellants. 24, 1998, controllers once again fired Deep Space 1’s ion propulsion system (fueled by xenon gas) when the spacecraft was about 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometers) from Earth. 10 controllers commanded the ion thruster to fire for the first time but it operated for only 4.5 minutes before stopping. 24, 1998, put DS1 on a heliocentric trajectory. The spacecraft’s main goal was to test 12 high-risk technologies including ion propulsion, autonomous optical navigation, a solar power concentration array, and a combination miniature camera-imaging spectrometer.Īs a bonus, the spacecraft also was to fly by asteroid 9969 Braille.Īfter a successful launch into a parking orbit around Earth, a third stage burn at 13:01 UT Oct.
#INTRIGUING DATUM SERIES#
It was the first in a new series of technology demonstration missions under NASA’s New Millennium program. 18, 2001: DS1's ion engine is finally turned off In Depth: Deep Space 1ĭeep Space 1 (DS1) was designed to test new technologies for future deep space and interplanetary missions. 22, 2001: DS1 entered the coma of Comet Borrellyĭec. July 29, 1999:DS1 passed by asteroid 9660 Braille Plasma Experiment for Planetary Exploration Instrument (REPE)
Miniature Integrated Camera Spectrometer (MICAS)Ĩ.
#INTRIGUING DATUM SOFTWARE#
Remote Intelligent Operations Software (Remote Agent RAX)ħ. Solar Concentrator Array with Refractive Linear Element Technology (SCARLET)ģ. It also returned valuable science data during its bonus flyby of comet Borrelly during an extended mission.Ĭape Canaveral, Fla.
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