The Dawn Mission

The Dawn Mission was a NASA spacecraft launched in 2007 to study two of the asteroid belt's largest objects: Vesta and Ceres. Using a highly efficient ion propulsion system, Dawn entered orbit around Vesta in 2011 to study its geology, composition, and history. Afterward, it traveled to Ceres, arriving in 2015, to investigate its icy surface, internal structure, and possible water reservoirs. The mission aimed to improve understanding of planetary formation and the history of our solar system's early development, providing valuable insights into the building blocks of planets.