Unmanned spacecraft hurtles toward Pluto
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-20 07:21

The spacecraft will use Jupiter's gravity as a sling to shave five years off the trip, allowing it to arrive as early as July 2015.

The 1,054-pound spacecraft was loaded with seven instruments that will photograph the surfaces of Pluto and its large moon, Charon, as well as analyze Pluto's atmosphere Two of the cameras, Alice and Ralph, are named for the bickering couple from TV's "The Honeymooners."

The probe will rely on the natural decay of the plutonium to generate electricity for its instruments. NASA and the Energy Department had put the chances of a launch accident that could release radiation at 1 in 350. As a precaution, the agencies brought in 16 mobile field teams that can detect radiation and 33 air samplers and monitors.

"Certainly there are feelings of relief that we didn't have to actually execute any of our contingency plans," said Bob Lay, emergency management director for surrounding Brevard County.

Griffin said he had an answer for those who may question spending $700 million on a mission to study Pluto and the Kuiper (pronounced KY-per) Belt, which is too far away to observe in any detail from Earth.

"Of what value do you think it might be to be able to study the primordial constituents from which the solar system and all the planets and we, ourselves, were formed?" Griffin said.