This is the best view of Pluto most of us will see in our lifetime

Well, history is littered with people effectively proclaiming and conveying the idea of how this is the "best" we can do in our lifetimes, or this is the pinnacle of science for a long time to come... etc...

And yet, so many of them were proven wrong!


FOR EXAMPLE:

Just a few weeks ago, there was an announcement about how we might be able to send a swarm of tiny microprobes to our nearest star, Alpha Centauri, in a matter of just a few years.

That mission would utilize a few blasted-pulses from high energy lasers (lasers that will probably exist and come online within a decade or two).

If those lasers can spark tiny probes to Alpha Centauri that fast, then they can also get us to Pluto surprisingly faster -- perhaps in a matter of days?


ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

There are the famous quotes, to the effect of: "heavier than air flying machines are impossible", or "the entire world will not need more than 5 or 6 computers..." etc...


YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE!

Just before the turn of the century from the 1800's, to the 1900's, there was a plethora of HIGHLY intelligent scientists, saying that all the basic mysteries of the universe have ALREADY been discovered...

And that all that remained to be done in astronomical-science, was to perfect our observations to the 6th decimal place.

And yet... within the next couple of decades that followed after that pronouncement, Quantum-Physics, and Einstein's-Relativity was born!


So... In short, I think this is a great and AWESOME post by Leopoldo35478! I've certainly upvoted it!

BUT... My only wish is that Leopoldo35478 did not fall into the trap, about how this is the actually the best it is getting to get, when it comes to exploration, science, and astronomical science, and Pluto in particular.

On that point I would have to profoundly disagree: I think it will get much better!

Don't under-estimate the universe, and humanity's ability to exploit the universe!

So ya: I think chances are good, that within MOST of our lifetimes, we will see FAR better images of the surface of Pluto.

In fact, I wouldn't be overly surprised if some youngster reading this comment right now here on Reddit, will turn out to be the first human to walk on Pluto.

(In the meantime: that youngster should get off my lawn!)

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