The Journey to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

The podcast episode discusses the long and challenging journey of the New Horizons spacecraft to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. Dr. Alan Stern and Dr. David Grinspoon, who were both involved in the mission, talk about the early aspirations of exploring Pluto and the obstacles faced in making it a reality. They share the story of the New Horizons team and their determination to build a spacecraft capable of reaching the farthest reaches of the solar system. The episode also highlights the significance of the discovery of the Kuiper Belt, the third zone of the solar system, and how the New Horizons mission provided insights into this new class of small planets.