Film Lens
The documentary focuses on Pluto, located 3.5 billion miles from Earth, and its five moons. Discovered in 1930, Pluto was long considered a lifeless gray rock. However, after NASA launched the New Horizons probe in 2006, the mission revealed surprising details about Pluto's surface and potential for life. The probe returned the first close-up images of Pluto, leading scientists to rethink their understanding of this distant world. The data indicated a possible liquid water ocean beneath its icy surface, challenging previous assumptions about the planet's characteristics.
The film also shows the efforts of mission operations manager Alice Bowman and her team, who faced significant challenges in maintaining contact with New Horizons. The documentary illustrates how Pluto, once deemed unimportant, has emerged as a complex and intriguing body within our solar system. The findings suggest that Pluto could even play a role in understanding the potential for extraterrestrial life, making it a significant subject of study in the field of astrobiology.
Why Watch
- •See the first close-up images of Pluto from New Horizons.
- •Find out how Pluto's features rival Earth's landscapes.
- •Meet Alice Bowman, the mission operations manager.
Did You Know
•Pluto is located 3.5 billion miles from Earth.
•The New Horizons probe took over 9 years to reach Pluto.
•Pluto was discovered in 1930.
•Data from New Horizons suggests Pluto may have a liquid water ocean beneath its surface.
Perfect For
Space explorationAstrobiologyPlanetary science