New HORIZONS

This is a low-part somewhat accurate replica of the New Horizons probe i decided to make

The New Horizons spacecraft is a NASA mission launched on January 19, 2006, with the primary goal of studying the dwarf planet Pluto and its moons, as well as exploring the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond Pluto. Here are some key features and information about the spacecraft:

1. Launch Date: New Horizons was launched on January 19, 2006, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, aboard an Atlas V rocket.

2. Mission Objectives: Its primary mission was to provide the first close-up images and detailed scientific data about Pluto and its moon Charon. Additionally, it aimed to study other Kuiper Belt objects and collect data about the distant regions of our solar system.

3. Spacecraft Design: New Horizons is a relatively small spacecraft, weighing approximately 478 kilograms (1,054 pounds). It is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) to generate electricity from the radioactive decay of plutonium-238.

4. Instruments: The spacecraft is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and particle detectors. These instruments allowed it to capture high-resolution images, analyze the composition of Pluto's surface, and study its atmosphere.

5. Speed and Distance: New Horizons was one of the fastest spacecraft ever launched, reaching speeds of up to 16.26 kilometers per second (about 58,536 kilometers per hour or 36,373 miles per hour). It covered the approximately 4.9 billion kilometers (3.04 billion miles) to Pluto in about 9.5 years.

6. Pluto Encounter: On July 14, 2015, New Horizons made its historic close flyby of Pluto, coming within about 12,500 kilometers (7,800 miles) of the dwarf planet's surface. It provided breathtaking images and valuable data about Pluto's geology, atmosphere, and more.

7. Kuiper Belt Mission: After its Pluto encounter, New Horizons continued its mission to explore other Kuiper Belt objects. In January 2019, it conducted a flyby of the distant object 2014 MU69, nicknamed "Ultima Thule," providing valuable insights into the early solar system.

8. Current Status: As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, New Horizons continued its mission to study objects in the Kuiper Belt. It was operating on extended mission phases, and its data continued to be analyzed by scientists.