The New Horizons probe has survived the journey beyond Pluto.
In the night sent the first historical signals from the dwarf planet 4.8 billion kilometers away.
The solar system’s original set of ‘planets have now all been visited.
Already last reached New Horizons, very likely, to Pluto and scientists at NASA cheered. But a certain tension appeared also as confirmation that the New Horizons actually arrived was not until last night.
But just before three o’clock news came. The probe had survived the journey beyond Pluto without having incurred any damage to their systems. The message was received by cheers and applause and Nasa.
The journey beyond Pluto means all the items considered by many to be the solar system’s planets, from Mercury to Pluto, has now been visited at least once a probe.
– We have completed the basic reconnaissance of the solar system, a mission that was started under President Kennedy for more than 50 years ago and continues today under President Obama, says New Horizons researcher Alen Stern, the BBC.
His colleague John Grunsfeld agrees.
– This is a hallmark in human history. It has been an incredible journey, he told the AP.
Pictures on Wednesday
The trip started already for nine and a half years ago. When Pluto was considered to still be a full-fledged planet while today described as a dwarf planet.
On Wednesday, the high resolution images of Pluto taken by the New Horizons published by NASA. After passing dwarf planet, space probe to continue into the Kuiper belt.
Have special cargo
Dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in Lowellobservatoriet in Arizona in 1930. Until 2006 considered Pluto a plane, the outermost of our solar system. But nowadays scientists use more frequently the term dwarf planet.
The name change has raised some debate.
According to Wikipedia, the state of New Mexico, where Tombaugh lived, passed a law that Pluto should be called a plane.
In honor of Pluto’s upptäcktsman, NASA placed a special cargo on board the spacecraft. Inside New Horizons is a small amount of Tombaughs ash.
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