BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The end of the space shuttle program does not mean the end of NASA, or NASA sending humans into space. NASA has a robust program that will last for years to come. NASA is conducting an unprecedented array of missions that will seek new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system and the universe. Here are the missions after the space shuttle program:
Dawn
The Dawn spacecraft is making a year-long visit to the large asteroid Vesta to help people understand the earliest chapter of the solar system's history.
During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. The mission will characterize the early solar system and the processes that dominated its formation.
Here is the timeline for the mission provided by NASA:
• Launch - September 27, 2007
• Mars gravity assist - February 2009
• Vesta arrival - July 2011
• Vesta departure - July 2012
• Ceres arrival - February 2015
• End of primary mission - July 2015
Juno
The Juno spacecraft, launched on August 5, 2011, will investigate Jupiter's origins, structure, and atmosphere. Specifically, Juno will investigate the existence of a solid planetary core, map Jupiter's intense magnetic field, measure the amount of water and ammonia in the deep atmosphere, and observe the planet's auroras.
Here is the timeline for the mission provided by the NASA:
• Launch - August 2011
• Earth flyby gravity assist - October 2013
• Jupiter arrival - July 2016
• End of mission (deorbit) - October 2017
National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project
The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP), which will be launched in September 2011, represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) in 2015.
NPP is the bridge between the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will continue a group of Earth system observations and test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions. From a vantage point 512 miles (824 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, NPP will orbit about 16 times each day and observe nearly the entire globe. This satellite is the gateway to the creation of a U.S. climate monitoring system, blending climate and weather data, and will continue key data records critical for climate change science.
