WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000
Intro music.

00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.000
Precise timing is a key element for NASA's New Horizons mission.

00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:18.000
Scientists say there's an urgency to get to Pluto as soon as possible.

00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:25.000
One reason is that the planet has an extreme elliptical orbit which takes about 248 years to revolve

00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:32.000
around the sun. Pluto is now speeding away from Earth and is growing much colder as it travels away

00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:38.000
from the Sun. As the planet recedes from the Sun's warmth, scientists expect its atmosphere to "freeze out"

00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:44.000
and become unobservable. Another reason is the expanse of space that the spacecraft has to travel

00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:51.000
to reach the edge of the solar system. Dr. Fran Bagenal of the University of Colorado explains the importance of the

00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:53.000
New Horizons launch window.

00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:00.000
The issue of when we arrive at Pluto or how long it will take to get to Pluto will depend on when we launch.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:09.000
If we launch on the first day, January 11th, then we'll get to Pluto in 2015.

00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:17.000
But, if we launch a day later, or several days later, we don't just get to Pluto two days later, it could be as much as five years later.

00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:24.000
And the reason for this is that it depends on whether or not we can get that gravity assist at Jupiter.

00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.000
And it also depends on the orbits of the planets.

00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:36.000
So, a little delay could lead to a much longer duration of the mission and a longer time getting to Pluto.

00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:41.000
There also will be significant science opportunities at Jupiter for mapping and atmospheric studies as

00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:47.000
New Horizons takes advantage of the planet's gravity assist. Using this boost from Jupiter will shorten the

00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:54.000
journey by about three years. NASA's New Horizons, a historic mission of exploration, will be

00:01:54.000 --> 00:02:00.000
the first spacecraft ever to travel to Pluto and beyond.

00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.000