New Horizons 2

Design of the first New Horizons spacecraft

New Horizons 2 (also New Horizons II, NHII, or NH2) was a proposed mission to the trans-Neptunian objects by NASA. It was conceived as a planetary flyby mission in 2002, based on the New Horizons spacecraft, which was in development at the time.[1][2] In March 2005, the proposal was not selected for further development because of a shortage of plutonium-238 needed for the radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG).[3] The New Horizons 2 study was funded by the New Frontiers program, and delivered to the U.S. Congress in June 2005.[4]

  1. ^ Portree, David S. F. (May 22, 2012). "New Horizons II (2004-2005)". Wired.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  2. ^ Stern, Alan; Binzel, Rick; et al. "New Horizons 2" (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Institute. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ Anderson, Kenneth; Bearden, David; et al. (May 31, 2005). Final report of the New Horizons II review panel (PDF) (Report). Lunar and Planetary Institute.
  4. ^ "Presentation: SSE Decadal Survey and New Horizons: A Rough Start" (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Institute. June 2005.