Oct 24 1998
From The Space Library
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(New page: NASA successfully launched Deep Space 1, a spacecraft that could "think for itself." Driven by ion propulsion, Deep Space 1 was the first craft to rely on this technology for its p...)
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NASA successfully launched Deep Space 1, a spacecraft that could "think for itself." Driven by ion propulsion, Deep Space 1 was the first craft to rely on this technology for its primary propulsion. The craft's destination was an asteroid 120 million miles (193 million kilometers) away from Earth. Although tracking stations encountered initial difficulties receiving signals from the spacecraft, Deep Space 1 communicated 2 hours after liftoff that it was on "the right course" and "in good shape." NASA scientists expected the spacecraft to travel 450 million miles (724 million kilometers) to catch up with the moving asteroid. Without the ion-propulsion technology, it would have required 10 times more fuel to reach its target. The craft was also flying with 10 other "futuristic technologies," such as lens-covered solar arrays to generate additional power, and a radio beacon to communicate with ground controllers without their prompting the probe from Earth.
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