New Horizon – NASA’s Mission to Pluto. Mission Details

[title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”single” sep_color=”” class=”” id=””]New Horizons [/title][fusion_text]-By Bruce Gavett

New Horizons was launched in January 2006.    It achieved a gravity assist from Jupiter in February 2007.  All of its speed was achieved at the launch and through the gravity assist from Jupiter.

New Horizons is travelling at 36,000 miles per hour and will pass within 8,000 miles of Pluto on July 14 at 7:50 AM EDT.[/fusion_text]

[fullwidth backgroundcolor=”” backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”left top” backgroundattachment=”scroll” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”” borderstyle=”” paddingtop=”20px” paddingbottom=”20px” paddingleft=”0px” paddingright=”0px” menu_anchor=”” equal_height_columns=”no” hundred_percent=”no” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

Images from New Horizons

As New Horizons approaches Pluto we can see clearly see both Pluto and Charon.  Pluto is a bit reddish (something like Mars).  Charon is darker and mostly gray.[/fusion_text]

[fusion_text]Both Images Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth backgroundcolor=”” backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”left top” backgroundattachment=”scroll” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”” borderstyle=”” paddingtop=”20px” paddingbottom=”20px” paddingleft=”0px” paddingright=”0px” menu_anchor=”” equal_height_columns=”no” hundred_percent=”no” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

Within 5 million miles, some of Pluto’s surface features become visible.  Can you see the “Heart”, the “Whale’s Tale” and the “Puzzling Spots”?

[/fusion_text]

[fusion_text]All Images Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fusion_text]Find More New Horizons Images and Videos (most recent at the top)

• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=215
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=212
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=207
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=205
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=201
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=203
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/News-Article.php?page=20150703
• http://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-horizons-color-images-reveal-two-distinct-faces-of-pluto-series-of-spots-that-fascinate
• http://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-from-nasas-new-horizons-increasing-variety-on-plutos-close-approach-hemisphere-and-a
• http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=182
• https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=20189

New Horizons on NASA TV

There will be a number of events televised on NASA TV on the 13th, 14th and 15th.

Monday, July 13

11 AM to Noon Media Briefing (What to Expect during the Flyby)

6:00 PM to 6:15 PM Update

Tuesday, July 14

7:30 AM to 8:00 AM Close Encounter Coverage

8:15 AM to 9:15 AM Media Briefing

8:00 PM to 9:15 PM Phone Home Broadcast

9:15 PM to 10:00 PM Media Briefing

Wednesday July 15

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Pluto Flyby First Look Media Briefing

Find out more about NASA TV

• NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
• “NASA TV Schedule” NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-television-coverage-media-activities-for-pluto-flyby
• “Workshops and Events” JHUAPL: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Participate/community/Workshops-and-Events.php

[/fusion_text]