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Revised: Jan 21, 2006 New Horizons Spacecraft -98
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/index.php
Schedule:
2006-Jan-19... launch (Atlas V551 1st stage, Centaur 2nd, STAR 48B 3rd
2007-Feb ... Jupiter gravity assist
2015-Jul ... Pluto Charon encounter
2016+ ... Kuiper Belt object encounters
Mission Objectives:
* Map surface composition of Pluto and Charon
* Characterize geology and morphology of Pluto and Charon
* Characterize the neutral atmosphere of Pluto and its escape rate
* Search for an atmosphere around Charon
* Map surface temperatures on Pluto and Charon
* Search for rings and additional satellites around Pluto
* Conduct similar investigations of one or more Kuiper Belt Objects
Spacecraft:
1025 lbs (465 kg), 8 feet wide (2.5 m), RTG powered
Post-launch trajectory:
98_pred_20060119_20060125_od003 (released 2006-Jan-20)
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| New Horizons - Pluto |
| Orbiter UTC |
Range (km) |
Range-rate (km/s) |
Velocity (km/s) |
| 2006-Jan-20 05:13:13 |
4 766 000 000 |
-23.187 |
47.124 |
| 2006-Jan-20 17:09:33 |
4 765 000 000 |
-23.354 |
47.048 |
| 2006-Jan-21 05:00:26 |
4 764 000 000 |
-23.537 |
47.001 |
| 2006-Jan-21 16:45:43 |
4 763 000 000 |
-23.725 |
46.962 |
| 2006-Jan-22 04:25:24 |
4 762 000 000 |
-23.915 |
46.930 |
| 2006-Jan-22 15:59:32 |
4 761 000 000 |
-24.106 |
46.902 |
| 2006-Jan-23 03:28:12 |
4 760 000 000 |
-24.296 |
46.877 |
| 2006-Jan-23 14:51:33 |
4 759 000 000 |
-24.484 |
46.853 |
| 2006-Jan-24 02:09:44 |
4 758 000 000 |
-24.666 |
46.827 |
| 2006-Jan-24 13:23:01 |
4 757 000 000 |
-24.842 |
46.798 |
