PASADENA, Calif., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned the first close-up image after beginning its orbit around the giant asteroid Vesta.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on track to begin the first extended visit to a large asteroid.

PARIS, Le Bourget and SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, QinetiQ, (LSE: QQ.L) and EADS Astrium Crisa, an EADS (PAR:EAD) company, announced today that the companies have entered into a joint agreement to supply the XENITH(TM) (Xenon Ion Thruster) ion propulsion system to the worldwide commercial spacecraft market.

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation for an expected July 16 orbital encounter.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation for an expected July 16 orbital encounter.