“We have completed the initial reconnaissance of the Solar System, an endeavour started under President Kennedy more than 50 years ago.” (New Horizons’ chief scientist Alan Stern)
“We knew from the time we designed our flyby that we would only be able to study the small moons in detail for just a few days before closest approach. Now, deep inside Pluto’s sphere of influence, that time has come.” (New Horizons’ Chief Scientist Alan Stern)
New Horizons made history, but the mission is by no means over yet. First of all, we still have to find out how well the spacecraft survived the flyby. Dust and meteorite strikes are potentially destructive for the probe, that has already experienced an unexpected glitch (luckily without consequences) a few days ago. Then, New Horizons will keep on going, setting its course to explore the Kuiper Belt and (again) promising additional discoveries.