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New Horizons spacecraft homing in on Kuiper Belt target

The New Horizons spacecraft, launched by NASA in 2006, is now approaching its next target in the Kuiper Belt. The spacecraft has already made history by flying past Pluto in 2015, providing us with the first close-up images of the dwarf planet. Now, it is set to explore a small object known as Ultima Thule, which is located about 4 billion miles from Earth.

What is the Kuiper Belt?

The Kuiper Belt is a region of our solar system that lies beyond Neptune's orbit. It is home to many small icy objects, including dwarf planets like Pluto and Eris. The Kuiper Belt is believed to be the source of many comets that pass through our solar system.

What is Ultima Thule?

Ultima Thule is a small object located in the Kuiper Belt. It was discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2014 and was chosen as the next target for the New Horizons spacecraft. Ultima Thule is thought to be a primitive object that has remained largely unchanged since the formation of our solar system over 4 billion years ago.

How will New Horizons study Ultima Thule?

New Horizons will fly past Ultima Thule on January 1, 2019. During this flyby, it will take detailed images and measurements of the object using its suite of scientific instruments. Scientists hope to learn more about Ultima Thule's composition, structure, and history.

What are scientists hoping to learn from this mission?

The New Horizons mission to Ultima Thule has several scientific objectives. One of the main goals is to study the formation and evolution of our solar system. By studying primitive objects like Ultima Thule, scientists hope to gain insight into the conditions that existed during the early stages of our solar system's formation.

What challenges does the mission face?

The New Horizons mission to Ultima Thule is not without its challenges. One of the main difficulties is the distance between Earth and the spacecraft. At a distance of 4 billion miles, it takes signals from Earth over six hours to reach New Horizons. This means that scientists must carefully plan and execute each step of the mission well in advance.

What can we expect from the mission?

The New Horizons mission to Ultima Thule is expected to provide us with a wealth of new information about this small object in the Kuiper Belt. Scientists hope to learn more about its composition, structure, and history, which could shed light on the formation and evolution of our solar system.

In conclusion, the New Horizons spacecraft is set to make history once again by exploring Ultima Thule, a small object located in the Kuiper Belt. This mission has several scientific objectives, including studying the formation and evolution of our solar system. Despite facing several challenges, scientists are optimistic that this mission will provide us with a wealth of new information about this primitive object.

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