Nasa celebrates following historic Pluto flypast
AFTER a decade-long journey of three billion miles through our solar system, a US spacecraft has made its closest approach to Pluto.
New Horizons passed by 7,750 miles above the surface – roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai – making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth.
There was jubilation at Nasa control after the unmanned probe started sending back signals following the unprecedented fly-past.
The moment of closest approach for the spacecraft came at 12.49pm British Standard Time on Tuesday.
Based on everything Nasa knows, New Horizons was on course for the historic encounter, sweeping within 7,800 miles of the icy world at 31,000mph. “I’m delighted at this latest accomplishment by Nasa, another first that demonstrates once again how the United States leads the world in space,” said John Holdren, a senior White House figure for science and technology.
“As New Horizons completes its flyby of Pluto and continues deeper into the Kuiper Belt, Nasa’s multifaceted journey of discovery continues.”
Nasa administrator Charles Bolden said the exploration of Pluto and its moons represents the “capstone event to 50 years of planetary exploration.”
He added: “The US is the first nation to reach Pluto, and with this mission has completed the initial survey of our solar system.”