NASA's New Horizons space probe performs first close planetary flyby of Pluto
July 17, 2015, 5:40:12 CEST | Wikinews
July 17, 2015, 5:40:12 CEST | Wikinews
The Atlas V 551 rocket, used to launch New Horizons, being processed a month before launch. (Image: NASA.
Image of Pluto and its natural satellite Charon by New Horizons on July 11, 2015.
Image: NASA.
New Horizons at the Kennedy Space Ce
On Tuesday, NASA's space probe New Horizons reached near Pluto. It was launched about nine-and-a-half years ago on January 19, 2006 to collect data about the dwarf planet, amongst other targets. With its flyby on Tuesday it became the first spacecraft to explore Pluto closely.
NASA collected data regarding the geology of the planet. The space probe had seven scientific instruments and massed about 450 kilograms (about 1000 lb). The probe has Pluto and the Kuiper Belt as its highest priorities. Scientists released images from the flyby on Wednesday. Mission scientist John Spencer said, "We have not found a single impact crater on this image. This means it must be a very young surface". He put the age of the current surface at no more than 100 million years.
The images also did not show craters on its natural satellite, Charon. NASA said mountains on the planet may be made of water-ice.
In February 2007 the space probe flew by Jupiter. The future mission is to explore the Kuiper Belt.
New Horizons.
Image: NASA.
Image of Pluto and its natural satellite Charon by New Horizons on July 11, 2015.
Image: NASA.
New Horizons at the Kennedy Space Center in 2005.
Image: NASA.
Antenna of New Horizons.
Image: NASA.
The Atlas V 551 rocket, used to launch New Horizons, being processed a month before launch.
Image: NASA.
View of Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41, with the Atlas V carrying New Horizons on the pad.
Image: NASA.
Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player.
You can download the clip or download a player to play the clip in your browser.
NASA TV footage of New Horizons launch from Cape Canaveral. (4:00)
Video: NASA.
A composite image of Jupiter and Io, taken by New Horizons on February 28 and March 1, 2007 respectively. Jupiter is shown in infrared, whereas Io is shown in near true-color.
Image: NASA.
A composite false-color image of Oval BA, otherwise known as the "Little Red Spot", using New Horizons LORRI and the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2.
Image: NASA.
2015: Pluto image (color) by New Horizons from 18 million km away, late last month.
Image: NASA.
Pluto as viewed by New Horizons, July 13, 2015.
Image: NASA.
Icy landscape on Pluto.
Image: NASA.
Source: Wikinews
NASA collected data regarding the geology of the planet. The space probe had seven scientific instruments and massed about 450 kilograms (about 1000 lb). The probe has Pluto and the Kuiper Belt as its highest priorities. Scientists released images from the flyby on Wednesday. Mission scientist John Spencer said, "We have not found a single impact crater on this image. This means it must be a very young surface". He put the age of the current surface at no more than 100 million years.
The images also did not show craters on its natural satellite, Charon. NASA said mountains on the planet may be made of water-ice.
In February 2007 the space probe flew by Jupiter. The future mission is to explore the Kuiper Belt.
New Horizons.
Image: NASA.
Image of Pluto and its natural satellite Charon by New Horizons on July 11, 2015.
Image: NASA.
New Horizons at the Kennedy Space Center in 2005.
Image: NASA.
Antenna of New Horizons.
Image: NASA.
The Atlas V 551 rocket, used to launch New Horizons, being processed a month before launch.
Image: NASA.
View of Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41, with the Atlas V carrying New Horizons on the pad.
Image: NASA.
Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player.
You can download the clip or download a player to play the clip in your browser.
NASA TV footage of New Horizons launch from Cape Canaveral. (4:00)
Video: NASA.
A composite image of Jupiter and Io, taken by New Horizons on February 28 and March 1, 2007 respectively. Jupiter is shown in infrared, whereas Io is shown in near true-color.
Image: NASA.
A composite false-color image of Oval BA, otherwise known as the "Little Red Spot", using New Horizons LORRI and the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2.
Image: NASA.
2015: Pluto image (color) by New Horizons from 18 million km away, late last month.
Image: NASA.
Pluto as viewed by New Horizons, July 13, 2015.
Image: NASA.
Icy landscape on Pluto.
Image: NASA.
Source: Wikinews
Most popular
Recently Viewed:
NASA's New Horizons space probe performs first close...
On Tuesday, NASA's space probe New Horizons reached near Pluto. It was launched about nine-a...
Supreme Court of India begins hearing against triple...
Friday, May 12, 2017 Crime and law Related articles 12 May 2017: Supreme Court of India...
UK defers junk food deals, advertisement restrictions
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Health Related articles 17 May 2022: Bans off Our Bodies protest...
Italian footballer Andrea Pirlo announces retirement
"As my time in NYC FC comes to an end, I want to thank everybody for the kindness and suppor...
Richard von Weizsäcker, former President of Germany,...
Richard von Weizsäcker, the President who oversaw German reunification in 1990, was announce...