The US space probe “New Horizons” will make history on Tuesday when approaching about 12,500 kilometers of Pluto, the smallest distance of which has already been the unknown dwarf planet.
NASA predicts that the probe reaches its peak in proximity to Pluto at 7:49 Eastern time in the United States, an event that will be retransmitted entitled to count.
Since last night and for 22 hours, the “New Horizons” will not communicate with the mission control center on Earth to save resources and obtain the largest possible amount of information on Pluto and its moons . . Thus, until 20:53 Washington does not know if the spacecraft survived the approximation in good condition
The historic space achievement is not without risks: the probe, traveling at 49,889 km / h and weighs 480 kilograms, can be destroyed if collide with a rock of Pluto system.
The NASA estimates the risk of collision is minimal (0.0001%), but points out that, after all the mission is directed “into the unknown”. So nothing can be discarded
The scientific milestone occurs after nine and a half trip -. 4,828 million kilometers -. In order to unravel a planet that is a real puzzle for researchers
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