NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is set to awake on Dec. 6 from the last of its 18 hibernation periods and prepare for its initial approach towards Pluto, which will take place on Jan. 15. The spacecraft is scheduled to come as close as 6,200 miles from the surface of Pluto on July 14, 2015, the closest any man-made object has come to the dwarf planet. The mission marks the first visit outside Neptune's orbit to the Kuiper Belt, an area of rocky objects.
The spacecraft has over the last nine years frequently gone into hibernation for various amounts of time ranging from 36 to 202 days, all of which adds up to five years in total, to help conserve power and allow scientists time to make plans for its exploration in space. It transmits a beep once a week to alert scientists that it is still functioning properly.
I for one am looking forward to some great images of Pluto. Maybe they will motivate the pointy headed scientists to reinstate Pluto to the status of a full fledged planet, which is it's rightful place.
Pluto is both a planet and Mickey's dog. And it will always be thus.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking forward to New Horizon's arrival since it launched. JPL is still marching toward a mission to Europa that will include a lander with a boring unit and a rover. Imagine, a rover that close to Jupiter.
Now if we only had the skill to actually build a flier that could skim the Jovian atmosphere and stay aloft there for years and years!!