Which of the following best describes how a spacecraft like New Horizons is significant to space exploration?

The significance of a spacecraft like New Horizons in space exploration is best represented by its ability to conduct flybys to gather information about distant objects. This spacecraft was specifically designed for a fast, close encounter with the dwarf planet Pluto and its moons, as well as to study other objects in the Kuiper Belt. During its flyby of Pluto in July 2015, New Horizons provided unprecedented data about the planet's geology, atmosphere, and moons, enhancing our understanding of the outer solar system.

This flyby approach allows spacecraft to take advantage of their speed and trajectory to cover large distances in relatively short periods, enabling the exploration of multiple celestial bodies without the need for prolonged missions or landings. New Horizons, for instance, continued on to study other Kuiper Belt objects after its Pluto flyby, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method for gathering knowledge about a wide range of distant astronomical features.