This undated image released by NASA and taken by the NASA Dawn spacecraft shows the south pole of the giant asteroid Vesta. After spending a year examining Vesta, Dawn was poised to depart and head to another asteroid Ceres, where it will arrive in 2015. (AP Photo/NASA)

Dawn spacecraft to get to dwarf planet by 2015

NASA mission » The spacecraft left the asteroid Vesta and is cruising toward the dwarf planet Ceres.

By ALICIA CHANG

| The Associated Press

First Published Sep 05 2012 01:24 pm • Last Updated Sep 05 2012 01:25 pm

Los Angeles • NASA says the Dawn spacecraft is journeying to its next destination after spending a year at a giant asteroid.

The space agency said Wednesday it received a signal from the spacecraft confirming that it left the asteroid Vesta and is cruising toward the dwarf planet Ceres where it will arrive in 2015.

Launched last year, Dawn is poised to be the first spacecraft to orbit two solar system bodies.

The mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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