New Horizons spacecraft is half way to Pluto

I've been having a recurring thought about this. Are they actually going to land something on the surface like they did on Titan?

I just cant wait for the results....probably they should examine the cold soil because it is one way of natural preservation and that if some kind if life existed there The surface isn't soil, it's water so call it is as hard as rock. It also is covered in frozen methane (natural gas on Earth, even at Titan it's still a liquid). Pluto was formed out on the edge of the solar system, it's always been extremely cold, it is almost certain that life could not have arisen there. What there maybe ar organic molcules similar to those found on comets. I've been having a recurring thought about this. Ar... [More]

The surface isn't soil, it's water so call it is as hard as rock. It also is covered in frozen methane (natural gas on Earth, even at Titan it's still a liquid). Pluto was formed out on the edge of the solar system, it's always been extremely cold, it is almost certain that life could not have arisen there. What there maybe ar organic molcules similar to those found on comets. Atleast that can help... Thanks B???

30 billion miles in 10 years? How fast is that thing going? EDIT: 3 billion. I was going to say holy hell. How fast is it going anyway, because 3 billion miles is mighty fast to travel in 10 years. There are about 87,600 hours in 10 years. If you are going even 500 miles per hour, that's 500*87600 = 43,800,000 miles traveled. Is something flying right over my head here because I feel like there is.

3 billion. I was going to say holy hell. How fast is it going anyway, because 3 billion miles is mighty fast to travel in 10 years. There are about 87,600 hours in 10 years. If you are going even 500 miles per hour, that's 500*87600 = 43,800,000 miles traveled. Is something flying right over my head here because I feel like there is. Using the numbers you gave, the average velocity for the trip would very roughly be 34,246 miles per hour. The craft had to be traveling at least 25,038 mph to escape Earth's gravitational pull and it got a boost from Jupiter, so that figure seems about right. (To... [More]

I have followed this mission with great anticipation because when i was a child i used to dream of standing on its surface and exploring, As I grew older I realised that this was impossible and gave up on ever seeing the surface of pluto, Its ironic that after all those years ago we now have a craft going there to map and return images, Personally i am very exited about this mission GO NASA,

Using the numbers you gave, the average velocity for the trip would very roughly be 34,246 miles per hour. The craft had to be traveling at least 25,038 mph to escape Earth's gravitational pull and it got a boost from Jupiter, so that figure seems about right. (To me, anyway. My math might be way off.) Regardless of the speed, though, I think the prospect of seeing photographs of Pluto's surface for the first time is exciting. Sure is, I can't wait. And the reason why I mentioned it's speed was because I'd forgotten how fast an object can fly through space. And actually, I don't really know HO... [More]

Go NASA Go! So its not landing huh? I cant wait for the results they get from a flyby mission. Thanks PotterManiac

I just cant wait for the results....probably they should examine the cold soil because it is one way of natural preservation and that if some kind if life existed there Thanks B??? too bad it's a fly by

too bad it's a fly by oh, not really. We have trouble seeing that area of space so New Horizon may find many more large bodies out beyond. In a hounded years or so, refuel stations and mining operations. Optimistic am I not!