New Horizons spacecraft at Jupiter, artwork. New Horizons launched from Earth on 19 January 2006 on a 9-year voyage to Pluto. Just over a year after launch, in early 2007, the spacecraft flew past Jupiter, using the planet's gravity as an assist to increase speed and change trajectory towards Pluto. Here, the spacecraft has just passed its closest approach on 28 February 2007. Jupiter is at upper right. The Sun is at upper left. To the left of the Sun are Mercury, Venus and Earth. Two of Jupiter's moons are also seen: Europa (left of Jupiter) and Callisto (above and right of the Sun). After passing this point, the spacecraft will reorientate its antenna to point at Earth. New Horizons will arrive at Pluto in 2015.