NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has entered its longest hibernation period to date, beginning on August 7, 2025. This strategic pause in its deep-space journey is expected to last until late June 2026, pending budgetary approvals.
During this quiescent phase, New Horizons will continue its scientific mission by utilizing three onboard instruments to monitor the charged particle environment in the outer heliosphere and the distribution of dust within the Kuiper Belt. The data collected will be stored and transmitted back to Earth upon the spacecraft's reactivation. Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator at the Southwest Research Institute, stated, "Even when our spacecraft sleeps, round-the-clock science data collection never stops." This hibernation strategy is crucial for managing costs and extending the spacecraft's operational lifespan.
In hibernation, New Horizons maintains a stable spin with most systems powered down. Its onboard computer conducts regular health checks and transmits a weekly beacon signal via the Deep Space Network to confirm its operational status. Since its launch in 2006, New Horizons has entered hibernation 23 times, with durations varying significantly. The spacecraft, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the outer solar system, including detailed investigations of Pluto and the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth.