New Horizons spacecraft launched by NASA was primarily sent to study which distant planet in our solar system?

Introduction / Context:
New Horizons is a famous NASA mission that captured the first close up images of a distant world in the outer solar system. Many space related general knowledge questions ask which planet or dwarf planet was the primary target of New Horizons.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The spacecraft mentioned is New Horizons. - Four inner and outer planets are listed as options. - We are asked to identify the primary target world of the mission.

Concept / Approach:
New Horizons was launched by NASA primarily to perform a flyby study of Pluto and its moons. Pluto, once classified as the ninth planet and later as a dwarf planet, lies in the Kuiper Belt. The mission delivered high resolution images and data about Pluto s surface, atmosphere and environment. Therefore, Pluto is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that New Horizons is associated with the first detailed exploration of Pluto. Step 2: Remember that the spacecraft took a long journey of nearly a decade to reach the outer solar system. Step 3: Recognise that Earth, Mercury and Venus are inner planets already studied extensively by earlier missions and are not the primary targets of this particular mission. Step 4: Match this knowledge with the options and identify Pluto as the only distant outer solar system object listed. Step 5: Select Pluto as the answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
NASA mission summaries, educational resources and news coverage from the time of the Pluto flyby all emphasise that New Horizons was designed as the first mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. This widely known fact appears in textbooks and exam guides, confirming that Pluto is the correct response for this standard space general knowledge question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Earth is our home planet and is studied by many satellites, but New Horizons was an interplanetary probe heading far beyond Earth orbit. Mercury has its own dedicated missions, such as Mariner and MESSENGER, rather than New Horizons. Venus has been explored by missions like Magellan and Venus Express and is not the main focus of New Horizons.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may vaguely remember New Horizons as a distant space mission but forget the specific target, leading to guesswork. Confusing it with other missions like Voyager or Cassini can also create mistakes. To avoid this, it is helpful to create a small chart matching major probes with their primary targets, for example Cassini with Saturn, Juno with Jupiter and New Horizons with Pluto.

Final Answer:
New Horizons was sent primarily to study Pluto.