Posted on 07/14/2015 4:49:58 PM PDT by lbryce
New Horizons' long journey to Pluto ended in an instant early this morning, when the NASA spacecraft went screaming past the dwarf planet at 30,800 mph -- but the mission is far from over.
Even as the spacecraft speeds deeper into the Kuiper belt, its instruments will continue to search for signs of faint rings around the small world and take measurements of the dust and plasma in Pluto's neighborhood.
And then there's all the new data that it has to get back to Earth.
Little world, big heart: Pluto stuns in New Horizons image Little world, big heart: Pluto stuns in New Horizons image New Horizons stopped communicating with ground control at 8:17 p.m. Pacific time Monday, and it is not expected to resume contact again until 6:02 p.m. Tuesday.
The 22-hour period of silence was deliberate. The flyby window was extremely brief and mission architects wanted all of New Horizons' power to be focused on data collection, rather than checking in with Earth.
lRelated Why New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto will be just 8 minutes long SCIENCE NOW Why New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto will be just 8 minutes long SEE ALL RELATED 8 If all goes well, the spacecraft will keep its 6:02 p.m. appointment, and send a 16-minute phone-home signal to the ground team, letting them know that all the instruments are still working and that it survived its encounter with the Pluto system unscathed.
The first batch of new data from the flyby will start to arrive on Earth at 2:32 a.m. Wednesday, and it will include the highest-resolution images taken by the spacecraft, when it was less than 7,800 miles from Pluto's surface.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
New Horizons, may people from the planet Earth be fortunate enough get to meet you once again someday.
It should continue on with it’s original backup mission:
Look for Hitlerys INTEGRITY!
Let’s not mess with Veeger, I mean Voyager.
“...when the NASA spacecraft went screaming past...” In space, no one can hear you scream.
Aren’t you going to post when the fly-by pictures are available?
I can see Uranus from here just fine…
No need to post pics, thank You!
Perhaps find planet Kolob?
New Horizons has made contact with it’s all-clear. Can’t wait to see the close-ups of Pluto as well as see what other info is sent back.
Contact re established ai 6:02 pacific.
Yes, absolutely. I’ll even put your name on the Pluto Ping list.
The risky part is over.
Thanks
Even if space was the size of your bathtub, it still wouldn’t be found.
Shameless plug moment....
My husband works at the NH plant that made this. Did not physically go to work today partly to avoid the “circus” that was set up for this event.
They need to send New Horizons to Pioneer 10 and 11 to pry off the plaques that show Pluto as the 9th planet in our solar system.
“sailing by” might be the best among the numerous inadequate metaphors.
Well, when are they going to put them up? I'm on pins and needles.
Will they fly by planet Xena and her moon Grabrilla?
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