Illustration of Dawn Spacecraft Core Structure Target Name:   Vesta, Ceres Spacecraft:   Dawn Produced by:   NASA/JPL/Orbital Sciences Corporation Copyright:  NASA Copyright Free Policy Cross Reference:   PIA12027 Date Released:  2011-03-24

• Dawn
• Vesta
• Ceres
• Asteroids

This illustration shows the core structure with ion propulsion system installed aboard the Dawn spacecraft.

Dawn, part of NASA's Discovery Program of competitively selected missions, was launched in 2007 to orbit the large asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The two bodies have very different properties from each other. By observing them both with the same set of instruments, Dawn will probe the early solar system and specify the properties of each body.