2006-06-27 11:54:06 · 11 answers · asked by Tina E 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The first spacecraft to visit the planet Pluto lifted off from Earth in January of 2006 and is expected to reach Pluto on July 14, 2015. Pluto is so far from Earth that not even the Hubble Space telescope is able to take clear pictures of it. Pluto's distance from the sun varies between 30 AU and 49 AU. One AU is the distance between the Earth and the sun. Pluto is so distant that man will very likely not visit for many 100's of years yet to come as we do not possess the technology to make the voyage to Pluto within an acceptable period of time. Compare this to the distance between Earth and Mars which is only 0.37 AU (35 million miles).
2006-06-28 11:10:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We DID visit Pluto. Robotic spacecraft passed by it some years ago and sent back fabulous photos and scientific information.
Taking PEOPLE there, however, will require a huge mobilization of money and scientific effort. We still need to be able to orbit our OWN planet reliably before sending explorers out for years in space to take a close-up look at Pluto!
Join the Planetary Society to learn more and help out with encouraging space exploration.
2006-06-27 18:58:27 · answer #2 · answered by Der Lange 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Pluto Express was launched on January 19, 2006. The robotic probe should reach Pluto in 10 years.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/01/19/pluto.mission/index.html
2006-06-27 19:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto sucks, why on earth would you want to go there, other than to collect space ice cubes. Instead we should be spending all of our money on weapons, so that we can defeat the rest of the world when they get sick of america and attack us.
2006-06-27 19:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lets see pluto is like 100 light years away..and plus its suppose to be 50 times colder than antartica so does that help
2006-06-27 18:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by hhj j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have a spacecraft on the way there right now!!
It's called new horizons. I watched it launch a couple months ago.
Check out the link below
2006-06-27 19:34:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We could, but what's the point and who is going to pay for it? It costs too much and there isn't anything there worth seeing so far as we know. After Mars will be the moons of Jupiter.
2006-06-27 18:59:12 · answer #7 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's ridiculously far away. 4284.7 x 10 ^6 is the closest. That's billions of miles!
2006-06-27 18:59:55 · answer #8 · answered by Christina 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
New Horizons. On its way right now.
2006-06-27 21:36:52 · answer #9 · answered by Infidel-E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why visit? we know how to make ice here!
2006-06-27 19:32:23 · answer #10 · answered by NTH IQ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋