← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN133 AU
VELOCITY12 km/s
133
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
19,896,516,803 km
43,200
KM/H
VELOCITY
30 years, 325 days
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
258
KG
LAUNCH MASS
3
TARGETS
Asteroid Belt, Jupiter, Outer Solar System
Pioneer 10 is a flyby mission by NASA / ARC targeting Outer Solar System. Launched March 3, 1972. Currently 133 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT PIONEER 10
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt and make a close flyby of Jupiter. Launched in 1972, it returned the first close-up images of Jupiter before continuing outward. Last contact was received on January 23, 2003, when Pioneer 10 was about 82 AU from the Sun. It carries the Pioneer plaque depicting a human male and female and Earth’s position in the galaxy.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- First close-up images of Jupiter
- Measured Jupiters radiation belts
- Pioneer anomaly (unexplained deceleration)
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First spacecraft to traverse the asteroid belt
- First to fly by Jupiter
- Carries Pioneer plaque with message for extraterrestrials
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (10)
Imaging Photopolarimeter
IR Radiometer
UV Photometer
Magnetometer
Plasma Analyzer
Charged Particle Detector
Cosmic Ray Telescope
Geiger Tube Telescope
Meteoroid Detector
Asteroid-Meteoroid Detector
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass258 kg (569 lbs)
PowerRTG (Plutonium-238)
PropulsionHydrazine thrusters
Launch VehicleAtlas-Centaur
Launch DateMarch 3, 1972
Arrival DateDecember 4, 1973
Mission EndJanuary 23, 2003
ProgramPioneer
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Asteroid Belt
2
Jupiter
3
Outer Solar System
LAUNCH HISTORY
OTHER OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM MISSIONS