According to a NASA press release, the Dawn probe arrived at the dwarf planet on March 6, the first time ever that this had been done. Previously, the spacecraft explored giant asteroid Vesta for 14 months from 2011 to 2012. The statement also said that Dawn has the distinction of being the only spacecraft to orbit two extraterrestrial targets.
The spacecraft has been using its ion propulsion system to manoeuvre to its second mapping orbit at Ceres, which it will reach on June 6. The spacecraft will remain at a distance of about 4,400 kilometres from the dwarf planet until June 30. Afterward, it will make its way to lower orbits.
The German Aerospace Center, the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, the Italian Space Agency and the Italian National Astrophysical Institute are international partners on the mission team.
