Updates NASA New Horizons Mission Updates

[GLS]

This is awesome. I remember the Voyager 2 encounter with Neptune in 1989 distinctly. That was back when this sort of stuff actually made it onto the TV news in a fairly complete fashion, because you couldn't get it on the internet because the internet hadn't been invented yet. I was bummed that Pluto couldn't be observed due to the orbit (I forget whether Voyager 1 or 2 made a deviation in a previous encounter that precluded the Pluto encounter).

We finally made it to Pluto! Yay! Have a trouble-free encounter New Horizons

If I'm not mistaken, after Jupiter there were 3 targets (Titan, Neptune/Uranus and Pluto) and only 2 spacecraft... Pluto lost out.

 

[Pipcard]

Our lives have changed quite a lot in the past nine years.

 

[fsci123]

I vaguely remember hearing about new horizons after liftoff and thinking to myself how long it will be till 2015.

 

[tl8]

Looking at DSN Now and there is significant resources dedicated to New Horizons. Not much being transmitted so that is good.

 

[RisingFury]

Looking at DSN Now and there is significant resources dedicated to New Horizons. Not much being transmitted so that is good.

One of the experiments after New Horizons close approach will be to beam radio to the probe as it passes behind both Pluto and Charon. IIRC they'll be beaming from Earth to the probe this time, not the other way around.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Maybe we should not go there after all... :crystalball2:

Once we've got there anyway, the NH team should take a pleasure in naming features on Pluto and Charon in favour of different demons and all the devildom! :lol:

 

[boogabooga]

Our lives have changed quite a lot in the past nine years.

A very young person thing to say. :lol:

 

[MaverickSawyer]

One of the experiments after New Horizons close approach will be to beam radio to the probe as it passes behind both Pluto and Charon. IIRC they'll be beaming from Earth to the probe this time, not the other way around.

Correct. It's due to the extreme range and the low-power transmitter on New Horizons.

 

[Codz]

About two hours until NASA TV coverage starts! We've come a long way, and another great human expedition is nearing its climax!

 

[boogabooga]

Did they ever manage to find a target for the Kuiper belt extended mission?

 

[K_Jameson]

Did they ever manage to find a target for the Kuiper belt extended mission?

Currently, we have a couple of good candidates.

 

[Topper]

Have a safe flight New Horizon we will see you on the other side!

 

[boogabooga]

What is the word for Pluto periapsis?

periplon?
perihadion?

 

[GLS]

What is the word for Pluto periapsis?

periplon?
perihadion?

I don't know how accurate it is, but the Eyes on the Solar System says it's just over 12500 Km.

 

[kuddel]

What is the word for Pluto periapsis?

periplon?
perihadion?

I would say "-hadion" (source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsis#Terminology_graph)

 

[SiberianTiger]

The most fresh pre-encounter Pluto picture:

 

[GLS]

Less than 20 minutes to Pluto now, NASATV coverage about to start.

 

[tl8]

The most fresh pre-encounter Pluto picture:

Importantly, we will get a Hi Res version shortly.

 

[80mileshigh]

Amazing images, so exciting!

I hope user @Starlost is seeing this? I remember your post back on the M6 New Horizons thread and have always hoped you'd get to see Pluto.

Sorry if that's cryptic for everyone else.

 

[SolarLiner]

CLOSEST APPROACH !!!

---------- Post added at 11:51 ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 ----------

Now, we wait 5 hours for all the science points ...

If only KSP were that realistic ... :lol: