How long to Pluto on a spacecraft?

Answer 1

On the Space Shuttle

The distance from Earth to Pluto is not constant, but averages to 3.57 billion miles. The Space Shuttle orbits at 17,500 miles per hour. Therefore 205,000 hours or 8,500 days or 23 years 105 days.

On the New Horizons probe

In January 2006, NASA launched the New Horizons probe on a mission to fly by Pluto. New Horizons is one of the fastest man-made objects ever launched, and is not scheduled to arrive at Pluto until July 2015 (it will not be entering orbit around Pluto. To do so it would have to slow down, significantly lengthening the travel time). So, as of now, it takes about 9.5 years to travel from the Earth to Pluto.

Answer 2

It would take several years with current technology, much longer if there were constraints on the amount of available fuel, because this determines the trajectory to be used.

The New Horizons project (see link) uses planetary gravity assists to reduce the travel time. It was launched in January 2006 and should arrive near Pluto in July 2015, "only" a 9-year voyage. That will be our first close-up encounter with the dwarf planets Pluto/Charon. The spacecraft will not actually slow down to orbit Pluto, but rather make a rapid fly-by.

You could reduce the travel time if you had really big engines and could simply boost all the way there. You would need big engines coupled with modified solar sails assisted by giant earth-based lasers. Given unlimited fuel for acceleration, Pluto could be reached, one-way, in a year or two.

Most trajectories take braking into consideration for orbital insertion. Whatever time you spend accelerating, you must spend an equal amount of time with your spacecraft turned the opposite direction, main thrusters firing to decelerate. Trip times are reduced by burning more fuel at each end. Most trips through space consist of an initial boost, lots of coasting, and a final decelerating burn towards arrival. When you think about it, automobiles and passenger trains travel the same way. The car or train accelerates on leaving the station, travels a long way at a constant rate, then decelerates to stop at the destination.

Answer 3

The NASA spacecraft "New Horizons" was launched January 19, 2006, and will be at its closest to Pluto on July 14, 2015. The relatively "short" travel time of 9 1/2 years is made possible by a gravity-assist (slingshot) from Jupiter.

Answer 4

This would depend on a number of factors including:

- where Pluto is within its orbit

- where Earth is in relation to Pluto

- the speed of the spacecraft

- if the gravitational pull of other planets, such as Jupiter, are used to "slingshot" the spacecraft towards Pluto (i.e. give it a speed boost).

The Voyager probes took about 20 years to reach the orbit of Pluto. The New Horizons spacecraft, set to reach Pluto in July 2015, will have a travel time of 10 years.

Answer 5

9.5 years is the answer to your question

The space craft New Horizons is on route to pass close by Pluto

It left Planet Earth in January 2006 and is due to start taking holiday pics when it arrives in and around Pluto's system in July 2015 so it is close to half way there right now.

It will be travelling at more than 36,000 miles per hour (earth's Velocity speed) as we speak and passed Jupiter in June 2007 and Saturn in July 2008 and is well on it's way, breaking an all manner of records.

Answer 6

The "New Horizons" space craft was launched in January 2006. It is expected to reach Pluto some time in 2015 if nothing goes wrong.

Answer 7

It take exactly 27 years and 3 days and 1/2 hour so basically you will die during that journey there and back

Answer 8

Let me tell you this, it takes 24 years to get to Pluto

I think it really depends on how fast you are going:)

Answer 9

The New Horizons spacecraft took 9 years to get to Pluto, but was not large enough to carry humans.

Answer 10

About 15 years.