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Pluto flyby mission wakes up after long sleep nearly 6 billion miles from Earth
By Ashley Strickland at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 16, 2026
· 4 min read
A groundbreaking mission that explored Pluto and distant solar system objects in unprecedented detail has awakened from its longest sleep ever and its 5.9 billion miles (9.5 billion kilometers) from Earth.NASAs New Horizons spacecraft went into a planned hibernation mode on August 7, 2025, and w...
Key takeaway NASAs New Horizons spacecraft went into a planned hibernation mode on August 7, 2025, and woke up on June 23 using commands stored on its main computer.
Why this matters in The Waco
The awakening of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft from its long sleep nearly 6 billion miles from Earth has significant implications for the scientific community in Waco . As the spacecraft continues to explore the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy objects at the edge of our solar system, it is uncovering surprising revelations about the formation of planets. The data captured by New Horizons on the rotation rates, orientations, and shapes of frozen objects in the Kuiper Belt provides valuable insights into how planets are born from dust and pebbles. This research has the potential to spark interest and curiosity among students in Waco's schools, particularly those studying astronomy and space science. The city's residents can take pride in being part of a larger community that is contributing to our understanding of the universe, even if the mission is being controlled from a laboratory in Maryland.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A groundbreaking mission that explored Pluto and distant solar system objects in unprecedented detail has awakened from its longest sleep ever and its 5.9 billion miles (9.5 billion kilometers) from Earth.NASAs New Horizons spacecraft went into a planned hibernation mode on August 7, 2025, and w...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ashley Strickland at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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