Pluto (R) and its moon Charon are pictured from about 6 million kilometers in this July 8, 2015 NASA handout photo. (Reuters Photo)
Laurel, United States:
An unmanned NASA spacecraft whizzed by Pluto on Tuesday, making its closest approach in the climax of a decade-long journey to explore the dwarf planet for the first time, the US space agency said.
"New Horizons passes its closest approachmark at Pluto," a NASA commentator said as spectators waved flags in a crowded room at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Center outside the US capital, Washington.
On Twitter, the American space agency kept its followers on the edge of the seat by giving a blow-by-blow update of the spacecraft's journey on the @NasaNewHorizons handle.
The final confirmation message scored a big hit on social media with by collecting close to 6,000 retweets in just 11 minutes.
According to principal investigator Alan Stern, there was a one in 10,000 chance that the spacecraft could be lost in a collision with debris around Pluto, long considered the farthest planet from the sun until it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
"New Horizons passes its closest approachmark at Pluto," a NASA commentator said as spectators waved flags in a crowded room at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Center outside the US capital, Washington.
On Twitter, the American space agency kept its followers on the edge of the seat by giving a blow-by-blow update of the spacecraft's journey on the @NasaNewHorizons handle.
The final confirmation message scored a big hit on social media with by collecting close to 6,000 retweets in just 11 minutes.
YES! After over 9 years & 3+ billion miles, @NASANewHorizons #PlutoFlyby was at 7:49am ET. http://t.co/Czrvonxugd pic.twitter.com/aSucgORofT
- NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2015We're 8,150 miles from #Pluto & scanning the equator. Can't wait to share what we find with our fans. #PlutoFlyby pic.twitter.com/U1kfnLRc4h
- NASA New Horizons (@NASANewHorizons) July 14, 2015Hello #Pluto! We're at closest approach. Congrats to all! Follow our story & view new images using #PlutoFlyby. pic.twitter.com/8JVlJrcUkY
- NASA New Horizons (@NASANewHorizons) July 14, 2015T-10 minutes & counting. 9,975 miles to closest approach. The excitement is so thick, you can cut it with a knife! #PlutoFlyBy #NASA
- NASA New Horizons (@NASANewHorizons) July 14, 2015According to principal investigator Alan Stern, there was a one in 10,000 chance that the spacecraft could be lost in a collision with debris around Pluto, long considered the farthest planet from the sun until it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
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