NASA engineer to speak in Downey on Saturday

DOWNEY – Dr. Marc Rayman, chief engineer of NASA’s Dawn Mission, will be at the Columbia Memorial Space Center this Saturday as part of the Columbia Astronomers’ general meeting. 

The Dawn Mission launched in September 2007. After exploring Vesta, the Dawn spacecraft traveled to Ceres; they are the two most massive residents of the asteroid belt, that vast collection of bodies between Mars and Jupiter. 

Ceres is so large that is included in the category of dwarf planets, along with Pluto.

Rayman’s talk begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Cost is $2 for non-members of the Columbia Astronomers club.