NASA’s New Horizons automatic interplanetary station has successfully exited hibernation mode after 321 days of autonomous operation. The spacecraft is currently located approximately 9.5 billion kilometers from Earth.
According to NASA, the wake-up from sleep mode proceeded as planned, following a pre-loaded program. Specialists will now begin receiving telemetry data on the probe’s status, followed by scientific data from its instruments.
In a few weeks, New Horizons will commence new research, including studying the distribution of hydrogen gas in the outer heliosphere using its onboard spectrograph. By the end of the year, NASA also plans to update the station’s software to simplify its future maintenance.
New Horizons was launched in 2006 and made history in 2015 by performing the first-ever flyby of Pluto, transmitting unique data about the dwarf planet and its moon Charon. In August 2025, the probe was placed into hibernation mode to conserve energy and extend its operational lifespan.
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