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| Pluto flyby: Nasa's New Horizons probe sends signal to Earth – as it happened | Pluto flyby: Nasa's New Horizons probe sends signal to Earth – as it happened |
| (7 months later) | |
| 7.24am BST | 7.24am BST |
| 07:24 | 07:24 |
| Closing summary | Closing summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| I’m wrapping up this live coverage now, but we will have a fresh live blog when the New Horizons team unveils its first findings from the Pluto flypast – that briefing is on Wednesday at 3pm ET (8pm BST/Thursday 5am AEST), and you’ll be able to find that live blog via our Pluto page here. | I’m wrapping up this live coverage now, but we will have a fresh live blog when the New Horizons team unveils its first findings from the Pluto flypast – that briefing is on Wednesday at 3pm ET (8pm BST/Thursday 5am AEST), and you’ll be able to find that live blog via our Pluto page here. |
| Before I sign off, a quick round-up of what we learned as Nasa and co celebrate this latest space success: | Before I sign off, a quick round-up of what we learned as Nasa and co celebrate this latest space success: |
| We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto. | We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto. |
| Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it. | Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it. |
| That’s it for now – thank you for reading and for all your comments. | That’s it for now – thank you for reading and for all your comments. |
| 7.12am BST | 7.12am BST |
| 07:12 | 07:12 |
| We’ve heard a lot about New Horizons “phoning home”, but as this Nasa update explains, the preprogrammed call was “a 15-minute series of status messages beamed back to mission operations at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics laboratory in Maryland through Nasa’s Deep Space Network”. | We’ve heard a lot about New Horizons “phoning home”, but as this Nasa update explains, the preprogrammed call was “a 15-minute series of status messages beamed back to mission operations at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics laboratory in Maryland through Nasa’s Deep Space Network”. |
| Travelling at the speed of light, the signal took four hours and 25 minutes to reach Earth, crosssing 4.7bn km of space. | Travelling at the speed of light, the signal took four hours and 25 minutes to reach Earth, crosssing 4.7bn km of space. |
| 6.52am BST | 6.52am BST |
| 06:52 | 06:52 |
| Here’s the probe behind it all – well, a replica model. The real New Horizons is, as Associated Press, helpfully puts it, “the size of a baby grand piano”. | Here’s the probe behind it all – well, a replica model. The real New Horizons is, as Associated Press, helpfully puts it, “the size of a baby grand piano”. |
| It also moves faster than any spacecraft ever built – at a speed of about 30,800 miles an hour (49,570 kph). | It also moves faster than any spacecraft ever built – at a speed of about 30,800 miles an hour (49,570 kph). |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.53am BST | at 6.53am BST |
| 6.37am BST | 6.37am BST |
| 06:37 | 06:37 |
| The New Horizons team is promising bigger and better images in its next briefing at 3pm ET Wednesday (8pm BST/Thursday 5am AEST). | The New Horizons team is promising bigger and better images in its next briefing at 3pm ET Wednesday (8pm BST/Thursday 5am AEST). |
| This short clip posted to the Nasa Instagram account shows how the New Horizons images of Pluto over the last week have become ever clearer and more detailed. | This short clip posted to the Nasa Instagram account shows how the New Horizons images of Pluto over the last week have become ever clearer and more detailed. |
| Later on Wednesday, Nasa says, it will share new images, from the very closest point of the flyby, that will be 10 times the resolution of the best picture we’ve seen so far – “with details as small as New York’s Central Park”. | Later on Wednesday, Nasa says, it will share new images, from the very closest point of the flyby, that will be 10 times the resolution of the best picture we’ve seen so far – “with details as small as New York’s Central Park”. |
| 6.16am BST | 6.16am BST |
| 06:16 | 06:16 |
| A recap of the groundbreaking (space-breaking?) events of the last few hours: | A recap of the groundbreaking (space-breaking?) events of the last few hours: |
| Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft has made contact with Earth, confirming its successful flypast of Pluto, after a journey to the far reaches of the solar system that has taken nine-and-a-half years and 3 billion miles (4.88bn km). | Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft has made contact with Earth, confirming its successful flypast of Pluto, after a journey to the far reaches of the solar system that has taken nine-and-a-half years and 3 billion miles (4.88bn km). |
| At precisely 8.52.37pm Eastern US time, the probe “phoned home” to mission control in Maryland, 13 hours after it flew within 7,750 miles (12,472km) of Pluto. | At precisely 8.52.37pm Eastern US time, the probe “phoned home” to mission control in Maryland, 13 hours after it flew within 7,750 miles (12,472km) of Pluto. |
| Scientists greeted the news of its safe passage with cheers and tears, calling it a historic day for space exploration. | Scientists greeted the news of its safe passage with cheers and tears, calling it a historic day for space exploration. |
| The successful mission means humans – specifically, the US – have now reached all nine planets of our solar system. | The successful mission means humans – specifically, the US – have now reached all nine planets of our solar system. |
| Although Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 – just months after New Horizons set off on its mission – Charles Bolden, Nasa’s chief administrator, said he hoped that decision would be reconsidered. | Although Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 – just months after New Horizons set off on its mission – Charles Bolden, Nasa’s chief administrator, said he hoped that decision would be reconsidered. |
| The New Horizons spacecraft had passed by Pluto and its five moons at 7.49am EDT (12.49 BST/9.49pm AEST) on Tuesday. It spent the following eight hours continuing to collect data and images from the last major unexplored body in our solar system, before sending out its signal home. | The New Horizons spacecraft had passed by Pluto and its five moons at 7.49am EDT (12.49 BST/9.49pm AEST) on Tuesday. It spent the following eight hours continuing to collect data and images from the last major unexplored body in our solar system, before sending out its signal home. |
| The contact with flight controllers at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics lab in Maryland, some four-and-a-half hours later, sparked a wave of shouts and applause from the crowd gathered to watch the historic moment unfold. | The contact with flight controllers at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics lab in Maryland, some four-and-a-half hours later, sparked a wave of shouts and applause from the crowd gathered to watch the historic moment unfold. |
| Alice Bowman, the mission operations manager, said no errors or problems with the probe had been recorded: “We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto … Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it.” | Alice Bowman, the mission operations manager, said no errors or problems with the probe had been recorded: “We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto … Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it.” |
| Read our latest article here: | Read our latest article here: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.27am BST | at 6.27am BST |
| 5.58am BST | 5.58am BST |
| 05:58 | 05:58 |
| In the wake of the successful flyby – and the enormous public interest in this venture – might Pluto’s standing receive a bit of a bump? | In the wake of the successful flyby – and the enormous public interest in this venture – might Pluto’s standing receive a bit of a bump? |
| Associated Press reports that scientists involved in the mission would like to see Pluto restored to full planetary status: | Associated Press reports that scientists involved in the mission would like to see Pluto restored to full planetary status: |
| The US is now the only nation to visit every planet in the solar system. Pluto was No. 9 in the lineup when New Horizons left Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2006, but was demoted seven months later to dwarf status. | The US is now the only nation to visit every planet in the solar system. Pluto was No. 9 in the lineup when New Horizons left Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2006, but was demoted seven months later to dwarf status. |
| Scientists in charge of the $720m mission hope the new observations will restore Pluto’s honour. | Scientists in charge of the $720m mission hope the new observations will restore Pluto’s honour. |
| Principal scientist Alan Stern and other so-called plutophiles posed for the cameras giving nine-fingers-up “Pluto Salute”. | Principal scientist Alan Stern and other so-called plutophiles posed for the cameras giving nine-fingers-up “Pluto Salute”. |
| In the meantime, perhaps Pluto can console itself with that other badge of honour: the postage stamp. | In the meantime, perhaps Pluto can console itself with that other badge of honour: the postage stamp. |
| Stern and his colleagues wasted no time pressing the US Postal Service for a new stamp of Pluto. | Stern and his colleagues wasted no time pressing the US Postal Service for a new stamp of Pluto. |
| The last one, issued in 1991, consisted of an artist’s rendering of the faraway world and the words: “Pluto Not Yet Explored”. The words “not yet” were crossed out in a poster held high Tuesday for the cameras. | The last one, issued in 1991, consisted of an artist’s rendering of the faraway world and the words: “Pluto Not Yet Explored”. The words “not yet” were crossed out in a poster held high Tuesday for the cameras. |
| 5.36am BST | 5.36am BST |
| 05:36 | 05:36 |
| Nasa has now posted video of the moment the signal was received by mission control, and the mounting excitement among the scientists as check after check revealed the spacecraft had done exactly what they had planned. | Nasa has now posted video of the moment the signal was received by mission control, and the mounting excitement among the scientists as check after check revealed the spacecraft had done exactly what they had planned. |
| (And yes, they are all calling mission operations manager Alice Bowden “mom”.) | (And yes, they are all calling mission operations manager Alice Bowden “mom”.) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.48am BST | at 5.48am BST |
| 5.27am BST | 5.27am BST |
| 05:27 | 05:27 |
| Well, we thought the New Horizons team was going to get some sleep … | Well, we thought the New Horizons team was going to get some sleep … |
| This is how you celebrate a #PlutoFlyby. Champagne in a blender. And a flag. pic.twitter.com/zLbj8RxvWL | This is how you celebrate a #PlutoFlyby. Champagne in a blender. And a flag. pic.twitter.com/zLbj8RxvWL |
| 5.12am BST | 5.12am BST |
| 05:12 | 05:12 |
| What was New Horizons up to in the hours between its Pluto flyby and the moment it sent that signal back to Earth? | What was New Horizons up to in the hours between its Pluto flyby and the moment it sent that signal back to Earth? |
| Reuters has this handy background: | Reuters has this handy background: |
| New Horizons spent more than eight hours after its closest approach looking back at Pluto for a series of experiments to study the planet’s atmosphere and photograph its night-side using light reflected off its primary moon, Charon. | New Horizons spent more than eight hours after its closest approach looking back at Pluto for a series of experiments to study the planet’s atmosphere and photograph its night-side using light reflected off its primary moon, Charon. |
| Sending back its first post-flyby signal took another 4½ hours – the time it takes radio signals, traveling at light speed, to travel the 3 billion miles (4.88 billion km) back to Earth. | Sending back its first post-flyby signal took another 4½ hours – the time it takes radio signals, traveling at light speed, to travel the 3 billion miles (4.88 billion km) back to Earth. |
| Already, the trickle of images and measurements relayed from New Horizons before Tuesday’s pass by Pluto has changed scientists’ understanding of this diminutive world, which is smaller than Earth’s moon. | Already, the trickle of images and measurements relayed from New Horizons before Tuesday’s pass by Pluto has changed scientists’ understanding of this diminutive world, which is smaller than Earth’s moon. |
| Once considered an icy, dead world, the planetoid has yielded signs of geological activity, with evidence of past and possibly present-day tectonics, or movements of its crust. | Once considered an icy, dead world, the planetoid has yielded signs of geological activity, with evidence of past and possibly present-day tectonics, or movements of its crust. |
| “This is clearly a world where both geology and atmosphere climatology play a role,” said Alan Stern, New Horizons lead scientist, with the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. | “This is clearly a world where both geology and atmosphere climatology play a role,” said Alan Stern, New Horizons lead scientist, with the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. |
| He noted that it appears that nitrogen and methane snow fall on Pluto. | He noted that it appears that nitrogen and methane snow fall on Pluto. |
| It will take about 16 months for New Horizons to transmit back all the thousands of images and measurements taken during its pass by Pluto. | It will take about 16 months for New Horizons to transmit back all the thousands of images and measurements taken during its pass by Pluto. |
| By then, the spacecraft will have traveled even deeper into the Kuiper Belt, heading for a possible follow-on mission to one of Pluto’s cousins. | By then, the spacecraft will have traveled even deeper into the Kuiper Belt, heading for a possible follow-on mission to one of Pluto’s cousins. |
| 5.01am BST | 5.01am BST |
| 05:01 | 05:01 |
| Assuming your ability to be impressed has not been completely sated, here’s a killer stat: after travelling for 4.88bn km and nine-and-a-half years, New Horizons carried out its Pluto flyby within 72 seconds of its expected time. | Assuming your ability to be impressed has not been completely sated, here’s a killer stat: after travelling for 4.88bn km and nine-and-a-half years, New Horizons carried out its Pluto flyby within 72 seconds of its expected time. |
| And it was early, to boot. | And it was early, to boot. |
| That's 99.999976% accurate. | That's 99.999976% accurate. |
| 4.47am BST | 4.47am BST |
| 04:47 | 04:47 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| As the New Horizons team has been keen to stress: there’s a LOT more to come. | As the New Horizons team has been keen to stress: there’s a LOT more to come. |
| But for now, here’s what has happened so far. | But for now, here’s what has happened so far. |
| We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto. | We have a healthy spacecraft. We’ve recorded data of Pluto’s system and we’re outbound from Pluto. |
| Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it. | Just like we practised, just like we planned it. We did it. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.31am BST | at 5.31am BST |
| 4.40am BST | 4.40am BST |
| 04:40 | 04:40 |
| Nasa says its “sneak peek” image of Pluto – the most detailed picture we have so far (for the next 15-and-a-half hours, anyway) – was its most popular Instagram post ever. It’s currently up to 308,000 likes. | Nasa says its “sneak peek” image of Pluto – the most detailed picture we have so far (for the next 15-and-a-half hours, anyway) – was its most popular Instagram post ever. It’s currently up to 308,000 likes. |