Archiv: New Horizons (spacecraft)
5 Spacecraft Are Leaving The Solar System. What Did They See In Their Journey?
Pioneer 10: Pioneer 10 was launched in 1972 to explore the planets of the solar system. It achieved the first flyby of Mars, the first trip through the asteroid belt, and Jupiter‘s first flyby. It was the first time NASA had used nuclear energy to power its spacecraft. So, after Pioneer 10 passed Jupiter in 1973, it still had ample energy to keep going. Initially planned for 21 months, it continued to communicate with Earth for a total of 30 years.
What Spacecraft Will Enter Interstellar Space Next?
(January 30, 2019)
This milestone — reaching interstellar space — can be considered leaving the solar system by a certain definition. Let‘s be clear about what that entails. In 1990, the New York Times reported that Pioneer was reported to leave the solar system when it flew past Neptune‘s orbit. That‘s not what Voyager 2‘s scientists used to make their determination, however. Instead, the more recent measurements consider the crossing of the sun‘s heliopause, the theoretical boundary to its heliosphere, to be the determining factor for entering interstellar space. The heliosphere is a bubble of charged particles created by and flowing past the sun. Scientists use it to mark where interstellar space begins.
„New Horizons“ blickt zurück
Denn den Blick von außen zurück können Astronomen auf der Erde nicht simulieren. Hier sehen Wissenschaftler immer die von der Sonne beschienene Seite dieser Himmelskörper. „New Horizons“ konnte aber auf deren Nachtseiten blicken. Außerdem fliegt sie 90 bis 100 Grad geneigt gegenüber der Ebene des Sonnensystems, auf der alle Planeten liegen, hat also sozusagen einen schiefen Blick von oben auf diese drei Objekte.
Just confirmed in New Horizons mission operations: spacecraft successfully completed its first course-correction on approach to its Jan. 1 flyby target in the Kuiper Belt! Details to come.
@NASANewHorizons: All between that, @ExpanseSYFY and 17 years of worldwide war on error (at present just on this small planet), could you guys stop that subliminal „Weltraum macht frei“ messages and think for a second next time before you name a space object? Thanks a lot @NASA.
@NASANewHorizons: Q: has any other object ever gotten an „official nickname“ before getting it‘s official IAU designation?
(13.3.2018)
@NASANewHorizons: I would have chosen „Grabthar‘s hammer“.
(13.3.2018)
Our next flyby object, 2014 MU69, has a new nickname! The Kuiper Belt object will be known as “Ultima Thule!”
(13.3.2018)