NASA's New Horizons is a space probe launched to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. It was the first mission to fly by Pluto and its moons, providing unprecedented close-up images and data about these distant objects. After its Pluto encounter, New Horizons has continued its journey into the Kuiper Belt, studying other icy bodies in that region.

Here's a more detailed look:

Mission Goal:

The primary goal of New Horizons is to understand the formation of the Plutonian system and the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune.

Pluto Flyby:

New Horizons made its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, capturing detailed images and data about the dwarf planet and its moons.

Kuiper Belt Exploration:

Following the Pluto encounter, New Horizons has been exploring the Kuiper Belt, studying other icy bodies in that region.

Launch and Journey:

The spacecraft was launched on January 19, 2006, and used a gravity assist from Jupiter to accelerate towards Pluto.

Key Discoveries:

New Horizons has revealed a diverse range of geological features on Pluto, including mountains, glaciers, and evidence of past activity. It also provided insights into the composition and structure of Pluto's atmosphere.

Extended Mission:

New Horizons continues to operate and is exploring other objects in the Kuiper Belt as part of its extended mission.