Friday January 20, 2006 07:51
Atlas V Launch Successful, 10 Year Journey Begins
Posted by MV as Randomness
The first mission to Pluto has launched successfully on January 19, 2006. The Atlas V 551 rocket carries the New Horizons spacecraft on its one-way mission to the outer edge of the solar system. Unlike some missions that return to the Earth, New Horizons will be a one-way journey to the Kuiper Belt and beyond, conducting flyby studies of Pluto and its moon Charon in 2015. It is scheduled to meet Kuiper Belt objects around 2016 to 2020.
Back in August 2005, I registered for a web certificate on New Horizons mission so that my name will be included in a compact disc bearing all the participants. Apparently, the space craft won’t come back to Earth so the compact disc will never be seen on Earth again unless retrieved hundred years after, if it is still in one piece. At least I have my name enlisted on that disc. LOL. 
Links:
NASA: New Horizons Mission