Coming Down the Home Stretch: New Horizons Begins Historic Long-Range Reconnaissance of Pluto, Prior to Closest Approach in July

Artist’s concept of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it passes by Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, in July 2015. Following its wake-up call from its hibernation late last year, the spacecraft has just entered the first leg of its approach phase to the Pluto system. Image Credit: NASA/JHU APL/SwRI/Steve Gribben

Nine years ago [...]