Scientists from the New Horizons team answer questions from reddit users (Part 2)
This is the second and final part of the answers to questions from reddit users.
The first part is here .
What are the technical specifications for storage devices at New Horizons? How much data (images, etc.) can the device contain?
We have two recorders, each with 8GB. We leave some free space for archiving and other data. There are few places, so you have to choose carefully. We compress the data to the maximum so that it fits as much as possible.
Hi NASA, how far will the New Horizons go on their journey?
New Horizons will never stop. Energy will end at a distance of about 100 AU (after about 20 years).
In what format do New Horizons send information? Does this look like a zip archive, or do you get the files separately? Are the images sent as JPEG, or is this raw data?
We receive data in the so-called FITS-format (Flexible Image Transport System), this is a typical format for astronomical images, for example, obtained from telescopes. You can read FITS files with free software, such as SAOimage DS9.
Will New Horizons ever be able to overtake Voyager 1? Or will the device slow down?
Voyager made 4 gravitational maneuvers and surpassed the New Horizons in speed (even taking into account the launch speed of the New Horizons), so he will always be ahead.
Is there two-way communication with the device? Or is the flight entirely planned in advance? (Just thinking, after 11 hours this is a serious delay)
We are loading the sets of commands. For example, the device now executes commands downloaded a few days ago, so yes, the flight is partially planned in advance.
Do New Horizons work on android or ios?
Seriously: can you send data to the device? Can NASA update firmware, for example?
We launched it before the iPhone appeared! And the team members do not have common preferences for choosing a phone brand.
We can update the software part of the device, and it really helped us out!
If it took about 9 years to return from Pluto to Earth, in Earth time, how long would it be for an observer on the New Horizons?
Also, about 9 years. We are not moving at near light speed.
How will Pluto research help future research and space exploration?
We are beginning to study in detail the third zone in our solar system for the first time. This is a big breakthrough in knowledge and undoubtedly it will give many new questions, which will need to be answered. We are just beginning to study this area, and perhaps someday we will begin work on putting the device into orbit, or even on the descent vehicle.
What is the temperature on the surface of Pluto?
35-50 degrees Kelvin or so.
How fast do New Horizons send images to Earth?
About 1 kb / s.
At this point the flow of questions did not stop, but there were no more answers from the team.
There is still a lot of interesting things ahead of us - receiving and decoding information, processing and analyzing data, and also flying to one of the Kuiper belt objects. Which one will become known closer to the fall.