Pluto awaits new horizons
23 January 2006
by Richard
Conan-Davies
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After 2 days of launch delays due to weather and lobbying of the governemt by the planetary society, NASA's New Horizons space probe finally lifted off. The craft will spend over 10 years to get to pluto with well over 8 of those just between Jupiter and Pluto. Rated as one of the fasted lift offs aboard Atlas V rocket the craft will get to Jupiter in about 1 year. It will photograph Jupiter and use the Giant planet's gravity to sling shot its way out to Pluto. The probe will be in electronic hibernation for most of the trip and is due to arrive at Pluto in the Year 2015. |
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Related Links
New Horizons NASA webpage
Nature
& Science News
ClearlyExplained.com