New Horizons flies past Jupiter
Posted: Wed, Feb 28, 2007, 8:10 PM ET (0110 GMT)
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Jupiter early Wednesday, performing a flyby that will allow the spacecraft to continue on its journey to the dwarf planet Pluto. New Horizons passed within 2.3 million kilometers of Jupiter at closest approach at 12:43 am EST (0543 GMT) Wednesday, passing through the "aim point" that puts the spacecraft on course to continue to Pluto. The flyby was a gravity assist maneuver that increased the spacecraft's speed by 14,000 km/h. New Horizons, launched in January 2006, will fly past Pluto and its large moon Charon in July 2015 and then continue out into the Kuiper Belt. While the flyby's primary purpose was to put the spacecraft on course for Pluto, scientists used the spacecraft's cameras and other instruments to study Jupiter and its largest moons during the flyby.
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Jupiter early Wednesday, performing a flyby that will allow the spacecraft to continue on its journey to the dwarf planet Pluto. New Horizons passed within 2.3 million kilometers of Jupiter at closest approach at 12:43 am EST (0543 GMT) Wednesday, passing through the "aim point" that puts the spacecraft on course to continue to Pluto. The flyby was a gravity assist maneuver that increased the spacecraft's speed by 14,000 km/h. New Horizons, launched in January 2006, will fly past Pluto and its large moon Charon in July 2015 and then continue out into the Kuiper Belt. While the flyby's primary purpose was to put the spacecraft on course for Pluto, scientists used the spacecraft's cameras and other instruments to study Jupiter and its largest moons during the flyby.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 5
Marles claims JP9102 axing is 'change of direction, not cancellation', as industry picks up the pieces
Defence Connect (Australia) — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) SpaceX Cargo Dragon Heads To Space Station
Aviation Week — 5:52 am ET (1052 GMT) Centaur upper stage installation recognizes trailblazing space program
US Space Force — 5:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Fifth time’s a charm as H3 rocket puts defense satellite in orbit
Japan Times — 5:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Why it costs India so little to reach the Moon and Mars
BBC — 5:46 am ET (1046 GMT) |
