Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: bearnard1212 on 20/01/2021 15:10:41
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Exactly 15 years ago an uncrewed NASA spacecraft by the Name of New Horizons blasted off on a 3 billion-mile journey to Pluto from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at a speed 36,400 mph (16.26 km/s) Of that time it was the fastest human made object. What is the news you know from that mission and when it will reach Pluto?
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Exactly 15 years ago an uncrewed NASA spacecraft by the Name of New Horizons blasted off on a 3 billion-mile journey to Pluto from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at a speed 36,400 mph (16.26 km/s) Of that time it was the fastest human made object.
It did not break speed records. Before then, both Helios, Pioneers 10 & 11, Galileo, and one manhole cover achieved higher speeds.
when it will reach Pluto?
July, 5 ½ years ago? Where do you think all the nice detailed photos came from?
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Exactly 15 years ago an uncrewed NASA spacecraft by the Name of New Horizons blasted off on a 3 billion-mile journey to Pluto from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at a speed 36,400 mph (16.26 km/s) Of that time it was the fastest human made object.
It did not break speed records. Before then, both Helios, Pioneers 10 & 11, Galileo, and one manhole cover achieved higher speeds.
The 16.26 km/sec was measured relative to the Earth. It was a record in terms of velocity achieved relative to the Earth via the launch vehicle alone.
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We made a programme charting the New Horizon's mission, which might be of interest: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists-podcast/pluto-long-last
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After passing Pluto, New Horizons had some fuel left.
- In 2019, New Horizons visited a Kuiper Belt rock called Arrakoth, and took images.
- NASA are using large telescopes on Earth to look for additional targets in the Kuiper Belt that New Horizons can visit with it's limited remaining fuel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Horizons#Mission_extension
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According to NASA, "New Horizons launched on Jan. 19, 2006; it swung past Jupiter for a gravity boost and scientific studies in February 2007, and conducted a six-month-long reconnaissance flyby study of Pluto and its moons in summer 2015, culminating with Pluto closest approach on July 14, 2015. As part of an extended mission, pending NASA approval, the spacecraft is expected to head farther into the Kuiper Belt to examine another of the ancient, icy mini-worlds in that vast region, at least a billion miles beyond Neptune’s orbit."