2007-09-27 launch

Dawn — launch

Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

Mission: Dawn

• Space transportation

Dawn is a retired space probe that was launched by NASA in September 2007 with the mission of studying two of the three known protoplanets of the asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres.

2011-07-16 orbital insertion

Dawn enters orbit around Vesta

Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Orbit insertion

Mission: Dawn

Dawn used ion propulsion to enter orbit around Vesta.

2015-03-06 orbital insertion

Dawn enters orbit around Ceres

Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Orbit insertion

Mission: Dawn

Dawn reached Ceres orbit after its earlier orbital investigation of Vesta.