Mission Info

    The goal of the Eris Explorer is to travel to and fly-by the most distant and remote dwarf-planet in the Solar System, Eris and it moon Dysnomia.  Along the way, Eris Explorer will use the gravity of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune to increase its velocity to Eris, while dropping balloon-suspended probes into each of their atmospheres.  Eris Explorer will be by far the longest operational probe in history spending almost 38 years in cruise.

 

Eris Explorer on the pad at Cape Canaveral Lift-off Booster Separation Common-Booster-Core Separation
Fairing Separation Stage 1 Separation Engine Shutdown, and cruise into sunrise Orbit Circulization Burn
Eris Explorer in its holding orbit Stage 2 Re-ignition Stage 2 Separation Eris Explorer deploying its magnetomer
Magnetometer deployed, and on its way to Jupiter Leaving Earth First Shot of Jupiter Atmospheric Probe Montgolfier released
Getting closer to Jupiter Montgolfier course-correction burn Montgolfier approaching Jupiter Montgolfier booster separation
Montgolfier about to plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere Montgolfier at entry interface Max-Q Drogue chute opened
Eris Explorer's view of Jupiter on approach Closest approach to Ganymede Closest approach to Io Eris Explorer about to pass Jupiter
Eris Explorer's closest approach to Jupiter Closest approach to Europa Leaving Jupiter Final shot of Jupiter
Montgolfier's first sunrise Montgolfier basking in the frozen glow of the sun Montgolfier floating in Jupiter's atmosphere Course-correction burn
Atmospheric-Probe Kittenger released First shot of Saturn View of Saturn from Eris Explorer Kittenger booster separation
Kittenger passing under the rings of Saturn Kittenger moments before entry Kittenger passing through Saturn's atmosphere Drogue chute opening
Heat-shield released Sunrise on Saturn's Southern Hemisphere Kittenger floating on Saturn View from Eris Explorer as it approaches Saturn
Eris Explorer crossing the plane of Saturn's rings Closest approach to Titan Eris Explorer flying by Saturn Closest approach to Saturn
The Sun being occulted by Saturn's rings Final Shot of Saturn Closest approach to Iapetus Cruising away from Saturn
Eris Explorer on its way to Neptune Atmospheric-Probe Fossett released First shot of Neptune View of Neptune on approach
Eris Explorer imaging Neptune Fossett approaching Neptune Fossett booster separation Fossett just before entering Neptune's atmosphere
Fossett entering Neptune's atmosphere Sunrise on Neptune Fossett floating in Neptune's atmosphere Closest approach to Triton
Closest approach to Neptune "Good-bye" shot of Neptune First view of Eris Approaching Eris
Approaching Eris Eris, Dysnomia, and the Eris Explorer Closest Approach to Dysnomia Approaching Eris
Approaching Eris Eris Explorer Imaging Eris Eris Explorer Imaging Eris Closest approach to Eris
 
Departing Eris Eris Explorer Imaging Eris as it leaves Last view of Eris, mission end