New Horizons Arrives at Cape Canaveral

[Fraser]

SUMMARY: NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has arrived at Florida's Cape Canaveral to be prepared for launch. If all goes well, New Horizons will lift off atop an Atlas V rocket on January 11, 2006, and begin the decade-long journey to Pluto. It's equipped with seven scientific instruments, and will study Pluto and its moon Charon during a relatively brief flyby. The mission may even be extended, giving the spacecraft an opportunity to study additional objects in the region.

View full article (http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/new_horizons_prepares_launch.html)
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[Greg]

I am surprised there is not more excitement over this mission undergoing its final countodown to launch. It is a great story of how a good basic science mission was saved. As it turns out this mission is quite timely and valuable considering the substantial interest generated by new discoveries in this region. Three cheers for the wisdom of the general public!