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Which spacecraft was the first to orbit an asteroid?
Quick Answer
NASA’s Dawn spacecraft was the first to orbit an asteroid, arriving at Vesta in 2011. It later became the first spacecraft to orbit a dwarf planet, Ceres.
The Full Story
Dawn made history in 2011 when it entered orbit around asteroid Vesta, becoming the first spacecraft ever to orbit an asteroid. It used an ion propulsion system, which is very efficient for deep-space travel. After studying Vesta in detail, Dawn went on to orbit the dwarf planet Ceres in 2015, another first. The mission revealed major clues about how the early Solar System formed and evolved.
Key Facts
1.First asteroid orbit: 2011
2.Target asteroid: Vesta
3.Also orbited dwarf planet Ceres in 2015
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The spacecraft that became the first asteroid tourist."
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