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Question
I read in a book that NASA had been planning to send a probe,"THE PLUTO EXPRESS" ,to study the atmosphere of pluto before it gets freezed, and that it may be launched early in the 21st century.Was it sent? If so ,what information did it bring?
Hi Sharmi,
yes the pluto express was concieved as a 2 spacecraft mission to be launched in 2001 and reaching pluto by 2013, just before the atmosphere of pluto was to begin freezing
as the planet receded from the sun, due to its eccentric orbit.
It was rescheduled to be launched in 2004 then 2009-10!
Currently there is a lot of debate on the www on this subject.
Appears that the project is "shot down" due to "funding problems at NASA.
Jayen.
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Answers by Expert:
Jayendra Upadhye
Expertise
1 - General questions on most astronomy topics such as:- Solar system, Cosmology, Black holes, Quasars, Dark matter etc. 2 - General questions about the geologies of planets. 3 - General questions about Orbits and laws governing them. 4 - General questions about rockets / spaceships 5 - General questions about stellar interiors and supernovas.
Experience
I was an askme.com expert rated no#1 for quite some time - and was top ten there by the time it closed - in Astronomy and general science categories.
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Engg. (Electrical engg), Maharaja Sayajirao university of Baroda, Gujarat, India.
Awards and Honors
None to write about except the askme rating if it is any worth!
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