Strong ground winds aborted NASA's launch of the first mission to fly by Pluto. The launch of the US space agency's powerful Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida was postponed several times, and is now scheduled for 1.16 pm (1816 GMT) Wednesday.
The grand-piano-sized New Horizons spacecraft, packed with scientific instruments, is bound for a 10-year trip to Pluto. Flying at never-before-reached speeds of up to 75,000 kilometers (47,000 miles) per hour, the spacecraft will explore Pluto's large moon Charon and, continuing on a trajectory away from the sun, will spend five more years probing the icy and rocky bodies of the Kuiper Belt.
Scientists hope the ambitious journey will deliver new views and insights into our solar system, allowing them to better understand the origins of Earth and the other planets some 4.5 billion years ago.
New Horizon's Launch and Mission
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The million outer planets of a star called Sol
New Horizons Still On Schedule For Launch
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 17, 2006
NASA's New Horizons mission to the outer solar system remains on schedule for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 1:24 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday.
