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 |
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![]() 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 -------------------- |
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#2
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Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 529 Joined: 19-February 05 Member No.: 173 ![]() |
Yes, very perceptive. Back in 2001, we carefully considerd but rejected flying a MAG on NH because it greatly complicates the s/c (booms, magnetic cleanliness, etc.).
However, SWAP (our solar wind particle detector) can potentially infer a mag field at Pluto-Charon based on the particle flux trace through the system and the kinds of solar wind disturbances/magnetospheric boundaries the instrument discovers. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 29th April 2024 - 01:40 AM |
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