_____________________________________________Ananova
Pluto Exploration Planned
US government approves $20 million for missions to Pluto and Jupiter's
moon Europa
The US government has approved £20 million of
funding for missions to Pluto and Jupiter's moon Europa.
The decision by the US House and Senate conference committee
came as a surprise to many observers.
The committee has also approved funding for future Mars
missions.
Scientists say the decision comes just in time because
the Pluto trip would not have been possible again for another generation.
It is expected to launch in 2006 and the journey will
take up to 12 years reports the BBC.
Louis Friedman, executive director of The Planetary
Society, said: "The people let Congress know that they want Nasa
to explore Pluto - the only remaining unexplored planet in our solar
system - and Congress responded."
The mission to put a spacecraft into orbit around Europa
and a number of other projects were also approved.
Story filed: 17:46 Thursday 8th November 2001
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