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Thanks for the ping. Actually, I'm working on ALICE, the UV spectrometer for this mission. Alan Stern five feet from me right now as we prepare for a sounding rocket launch.

As for the timing -- we have to go to Pluto now or else the atmosphere will freeze before we get there. The Long Range camera should get useful data (better than Hubble quality) for six months before & after launch.

As for Jovian science, the article probably doesn't mention that we're getting a Jupiter fly-by on for a gravity assist. We're getting some free Jupiter science on the way out there. I think Jupiter arrival is planned for July 2007, but that will depend on the launch vehicle used. NASA has two choices and hasn't chosen yet.

Any other questions?

MD