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New Horizons probe Tuesday, sending a signal from the Earth 6.5 km away, confirmed the success of the passage around the Ultima Thule probe, announced the DPA.
The New Horizons flight around Ultima Thule is considered a milestone as it is the most distant and possibly the oldest examined object in the solar system.
The signal from the planetary probe crossed the Earth for more than six hours and its capture led to enthusiastic celebrations at a Maryland Mission Center. Photos and other data should arrive in the next hours.
At a distance of 3500 kilometers
"We made a fly around the farthest body, "Says the chef de mission Alice Bowman, which emphasizes that the probe is in excellent condition and works perfectly.
The Ultima Thule is an unofficial name of the small object MU69 2014 located in the area of the Kuiper Belt, located on the outskirts of the solar system.
A risky takeoff was made at a high speed, about 3,500 km from the body surface. According to the scientists, the data obtained could help to better understand the process of planet formation.
Photos soon
Scientists do not know for sure if Ultima Thule is one or more objects. This should certainly clarify the high resolution photos that will arrive in the country in February. According to the first unclear pictures, it seems that it is a body of longitudinal shape of about 35 times 15 km, said AFP.
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