New Horizons: Pre-launch, launch and main cruise, Pluto and the Kuiper belt |
New Horizons: Pre-launch, launch and main cruise, Pluto and the Kuiper belt |
Feb 8 2005, 02:09 PM
Post
#201
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 133 Joined: 29-January 05 Member No.: 161 |
Yes it's happening after all these years, the mission to the last planet!
And maybe to celebrate the confirmation of budget, NASA approval preparations and the fueling of the RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator), there is an updated web site at http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ Launch will be January 2006 with arrival at the Pluto Charon system July 2015 (mark your calender!) and then on through the Kuiper belt during 2016-2020 and beyond. 20.8-centimeter telescope for 100m resolution at closest approach IR/UV spectrometers 2 x 8GB data recorders data rate: 768 bps (sic) to 70m DSN 465kg including fuel $650m 336 days to launch -------------------- |
|
|
Sep 5 2005, 08:12 PM
Post
#202
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1636 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Lima, Peru Member No.: 385 |
Thanks to ljk4-1, dvandorn, remcook and antoniseb for the interesting replies. I agree that these replies are not of 100% focused on the above topic and somewhat related. At the beginning of this topic there were a very good comments between Doug and Marcel about the Delta-V for News Horizon to be captured by Pluto. The only solution what I have in the mind is that the spaceship can travel as fast as possible and be able to insert into the orbit is by sending two parts. The first part with enough combustible cargo to brake the News Horizon spacecraft before inserting to Pluto must be launched with anticipated time and with lower speed so that the spacecraft New Horizons which is launched later at with higher speed be able to catch it and dock it at the calculated distance previous reaching to Pluto for speed, mass and Delta-V in order to insert into the Pluto Orbit.
However, now I see, according to Bruce's note', is that the objective of the mission is not to only visit to Pluto but also to visit others "asteroides" or "planets" of Kipus Belt Oordt. Hence, the New Horizons spacecraft will flyby Pluto and the moon Charon in the interval of 2 hours. So short time to capture all needed information ? to take pictures on all surfaces, take spectometer and magnetometer for all surface too? with just only 2 hours??? at the closest distance. The other thing that I am uncomfortable is that none has told which "asteroide" or "planet" is New Horizons spacecraft is planning to visit...after Pluto. I guess it will scan for any to discover on its way like Voyager in reaching to heliosphere... Rodolfo |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 8th June 2024 - 07:10 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |