New Horizons: Pre-launch, launch and main cruise, Pluto and the Kuiper belt Options

[cIclops]

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

[djellison]

768 bps isnt too bad actually

given say an 8 hr DSN pass - that's 21.6 Mbits

One a day, for a week = 151 Mbits

Heck - 8 Gigabits.





Doug

[gpurcell]

Yeah, but in 2015 we'll be posting on a BBS where some 20-year old cracker will wonder why the thing wasn't launched with a 30 MB camera and 1GB/sec data transfer capabilities...after all, you can get it at any Best Buy!

[remcook]

...but will it survive a decade in space?
hey, most don't even work a decade on earth!

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

It is still touch and go whether NH will be launched in 2006 -- a final decision will be made on this in April. If it is delayed until 2007, the flight, without a Jupiter gravity assist, will take three years longer -- but as a compensation, NH will be more likely to have its supply of plutonium fuel (whose processing has been very seriously delayed by the Los Alamos security scandal) topped up enough to allow it to fly by one or more KBOs after Pluto. It is very much open to doubt whether it could operate long enough to reach another KBO after Pluto if it's launched in 2006, despite its shorter flight time.

[cIclops]

Audio interview with Hew Horizons (NH) Principle Investigator, Alan Stern available here:

http://www.planetary.org/audio/pr20050214.html

Project update based on audio interview:

NH in final assembly stage: 5 out of 6 science instruments mounted on spacecraft
launch vehicle under contract
application for launch approval pending

launch window is two weeks long starting January 2006, launching in early part of the window means arrival in July 2015.

329 days till launch window opens

[Alan Stern]

Attached is a picture of New Horizons in build from last month. Enjoy!

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[lyford]

Attached is a picture of New Horizons in build from last month. Enjoy!

WOW - they're gonna need longer cables than that if they want to reach to Pluto!

Nice pic, thank you! - Where is the spacecraft being assembled?

[dot.dk]

Remember to send your name to Pluto

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ecard/sendName_ecard_content.html

[Alan Stern]

New Horizons is being assembled at Johns Hopkins, Applied Physics Lab. If you are not familiar with APL, it is where NEAR, CONTOUR, and MESSENGER were built, along with approx. 30 earth orbital missions, like TIMED, Transit, and MSX. By mid-summer the spacecraft is planned to be at Goddard for environmental testing.

[remcook]

Great news! thanks for the input Alan...didn't know PI's post on message boards

so, is everything going on schedule?

[Alan Stern]

Well, PIs are just people as far as I can tell.

New Horizons has its challenges, like many missions, but the big picture is very promising. We just passed a major review at NASA HQ, and we have over 80% of the flight avionics on the spacecraft. Mission sims begin next month.

At the same time we are building NH, we are pressing for a backup mission, New Horizons 2 for launch in 2008-2009.

[DEChengst]

Alan, can you give an update on the RTG status ?

[Alan Stern]

The RTG and the necessary fuel are both in good shape. Previous problems resolved.
All needed fuel is now ready. We expect 190 W or a tad more at Pluto in mid-2015.
The s/c requires ~165W, so there is a healthy margin. The launch approval process
has begun, and will take the remainder of the year to complete.

[DEChengst]

The RTG and the necessary fuel are both in good shape. Previous problems resolved. All needed fuel is now ready. We expect 190 W or a tad more at Pluto in mid-2015. The s/c requires ~165W, so there is a healthy margin.

Why does bad news always make big headlines and the good news somehow just doesn't get mentioned ? They scare the hell out off you by telling telling New Horizons may fly late or not at all due to lack of plutonium, but once the problems are solved the press somehow keeps silent. Thanks for the update and making me sleep a little bit better tonight