When I photographed the launch of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft it seemed like the 9.5 years it would take to reach Pluto would seem like an eternity. Really, it seems like only yesterday it launched and now New Horizons is on the brink of its historic encounter with Pluto. Sam was not at the launch with me when I took this image but he is by my side as we watch the events unfold while keeping pace with the fact that New Horizons:
– is the fastest space mission ever launched
– will travel the farthest to reach its primary science target
– is the first mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

View my New Horizon launch images from 19 January 2006.