Jul 14, 2015

Tuesday, mankind visits its first unexplored world since 1989 – and its last for a long time, if not ever.

The NASA spacecraft was scheduled to be 7,750 miles from the dwarf planet’s surface at precisely 7:49:59 a.m., the pinnacle of a 9 1/2-year, 3 billion-mile journey for the spacecraft designed, built and managed by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel.

: People look at an early image of Pluto taken by NASA’s New Horizons probe as the craft makes its closest fly-by of the dwarf planet at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

: John M. Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, speaks at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel, Maryland.The unmanned NASA spacecraft whizzed by Pluto on July 14, making its closest approach in the climax of a decade-long journey to explore the dwarf planet for the first time, the US space agency said. Moving faster than any spacecraft ever built — at a speed of about 30,800 miles per hour (49,570 kph) — the flyby happened at 7:49 am (1149 GMT), with the probe running on auto-pilot. It was to pass by Pluto at a distance of 7,767 milesTelevision host Bill Nye the “Science Guy,” listens during a presentation at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

: Guest and New Horizons team members count down to the spacecraft’s closest approach to Pluto, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. The moment of closest approach for the New Horizons spacecraft came around 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday, culminating an epic journey from planet Earth that spanned an incredible 3 billion miles and 9Ω years. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Tara Kedia poses wearing a New Horizons probe hat at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

: Television host Bill Nye the “Science Guy,” listens during a presentation at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

: People pose for photos wearing New Horizons probe hats at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pluto, from New Horizons (NASA Twitter)

: Members of the New Horizons science team react to seeing the spacecraft’s last and sharpest image of Pluto before closest approach later in the day, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was on track to zoom within 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) of Pluto on Tuesday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Members of the New Horizons science team react to seeing the spacecraft’s last and sharpest image of Pluto before closest approach later in the day, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was on track to zoom within 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) of Pluto on Tuesday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Members of the New Horizons science team react to seeing the spacecraft’s last and sharpest image of Pluto before closest approach later in the day, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was on track to zoom within 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) of Pluto on Tuesday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Members of the New Horizons science team react to seeing the spacecraft’s last and sharpest image of Pluto before closest approach later in the day, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was on track to zoom within 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) of Pluto on Tuesday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Members of the New Horizons science team react to seeing the spacecraft’s last and sharpest image of Pluto before closest approach later in the day, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft was on track to zoom within 7,800 miles (12,500 kilometers) of Pluto on Tuesday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

: Carlos Nieto (L) and Nam Phamdo pose with New Horizons probe hats at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory July 14, 2015 in Laurel, Maryland. The unmanned NASA spacecraft whizzed by Pluto on July 14, making its closest approach in the climax of a decade-long journey to explore the dwarf planet for the first time, the US space agency said. (AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Pluto, up close: New Horizons historic fly-by

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