<P> On January 19, 2006, New Horizons was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station by the Atlas - V rocket directly into an Earth - and - solar escape trajectory with a speed of about 16.26 kilometers per second (58,536 km / h; 36,373 mph). After a brief encounter with asteroid 132524 APL, New Horizons proceeded to Jupiter, making its closest approach on February 28, 2007, at a distance of 2.3 million kilometers (1.4 million miles). The Jupiter flyby provided a gravity assist that increased New Horizons' speed; the flyby also enabled a general test of New Horizons' scientific capabilities, returning data about the planet's atmosphere, moons, and magnetosphere . </P> <P> Most of the post-Jupiter voyage was spent in hibernation mode to preserve on - board systems, except for brief annual checkouts . On December 6, 2014, New Horizons was brought back online for the Pluto encounter, and instrument check - out began . On January 15, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft began its approach phase to Pluto . </P> <P> On July 14, 2015, at 11: 49 UTC, it flew 12,500 km (7,800 mi) above the surface of Pluto, making it the first spacecraft to explore the dwarf planet . On October 25, 2016, at 21: 48 UTC, the last of the recorded data from the Pluto flyby was received from New Horizons . Having completed its flyby of Pluto, New Horizons has maneuvered for a flyby of Kuiper belt object (486958) 2014 MU 69, expected to take place on January 1, 2019, when it will be 43.4 AU from the Sun . </P> <P> In August 1992, JPL scientist Robert Staehle called Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh, requesting permission to visit his planet . "I told him he was welcome to it," Tombaugh later remembered, "though he's got to go one long, cold trip ." The call eventually led to a series of proposed Pluto missions, leading up to New Horizons . </P>

When did the new horizons mission reach pluto