Dawn, NASA's spacecraft to visit dwarf planets Ceres and Vesta, formerly known as asteroids, in the asteroid belt was launched September 27, 2007. After testing its boosters in orbit above Earth and then receiving a gravity boost from Mars, Dawn entered orbit above Vesta June 16, 2011. After exploring Vesta for a little over a year, it headed toward Ceres.
Dawn reached Ceres in December 2014 and discovered 'light' spots on the surface. NASA scientists concluded that salt-rich water might have welled up to the surface of the dwarf planet.
NASA originally planned to have Dawn visit a third body, Adeona, but decided the spacecraft would be best used studying Ceres. Dawn's mission was extended for one year in June 2017 and it has enough fuel to last until the end of 2018. At that time, NASA may put it into an orbit which will avoid impact with Ceres. They do not want to contaminate any of the asteroids.
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