On Sept. 27th a Delta 2 rocket lifted off from a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. at approximately 7:30am. this rocket was fitted with nine extra fuel boosters to get Dawn on its way to the asteroid belt to investigate a giant rocky asteroid by the name of "Vesta" in 2011 and then to the dwarf planet Ceres in 2015.
These two bodies located on the asteroid belt are in orbit between Mars and Jupiter. The idea behind using the same set of instruments at both destinations is so that NASA can more accurately formulate comparisons and contrasts. The instruments will measure shape, surface topography, tectonic history, elemental and mineral composition, as well as seek information on water-bearing minerals.
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