Pluto Express

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Pluto, the smallest planet in our solar system has remained unexplored since astronomer Clyde Tombaugh first discovered it in 1930. Pluto is the only planet not yet seen up close by any spacecraft because Pluto is so far away and so hard to get to. The study of Pluto has continued to challenge astronomers who study planets.

To get information on Pluto and its only moon, Charon, NASA is planning to send a space probe into space called Pluto Express. It will be launched around 2001 and arrive at Pluto around 2010.

Mission Goals

The three things NASA wants to accomplish on this mission are:

 Map the surface of Pluto and Charon
Find out what materials make up Pluto’s surface
Finds out what gases make up Pluto’s atmosphere

Pluto's Atmosphere

Pluto Express is also planning to get to Pluto as fast as possible because Pluto has an atmosphere that only exists when it’s close to the Sun. When Pluto moves away from the Sun the atmosphere freezes on the surface of the planet. If Pluto Express does not arrive at Pluto when it’s close to the Sun, it will not be able to find out what Pluto’s atmosphere is made out of.

Image of Pluto Express at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/image/spacecraft/pluto_express.jpg courtesy of NASA. Permission at http://www.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/guideline.html

 

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Space Exploration of the Past, Present, and Future
Bartlett Elementary School 2000