CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). 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For over 30 years, the Pioneer 10 spacecraft sent photographs and scientific information back to Earth. Launched March 2, 1972, it reached speeds of 52,100 kilometers (32,400 miles) per hour on its flight to Jupiter, making it one of the fastest human-made objects ever. After completing an investigation of Jupiter, Pioneer 10 continued on to the outer regions of the solar system, studying solar wind and cosmic rays.

Having gone further into space than any other object sent from Earth, Pioneer's last weak signal was received on January 22, 2003, from approximately 12.2 billion kilometers (7.6 billion miles) from Earth. NASA engineers reported that Pioneer 10's radioisotope power source had degraded and was not likely to allow future transmissions.

As it drifts into interstellar space, Pioneer 10 will continue to carry a plaque designed to inform intelligent life that may find it about the spacecraft and its origins. The prototype spacecraft displayed here was constructed for NASA by TRW, Inc.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Key Accomplishment(s) First Spacecraft to Travel Beyond Asteroid Belt, Fly By Jupiter and Saturn Brief Description The Pioneer spacecraft, launched in 1972 and 1973, were the first to traverse the asteroid belt and explore the region around the giant planet Jupiter. Pioneer 11 also explored Saturn. The two craft are headed out of the solar system toward other stars in the galaxy. Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Special/Commemorative Manufacturer TRW, Inc.
Dimensions Overall: 9 ft. wide x 9 ft. 6 in. long x 9 ft. diameter, 9 ft. span, 568 lb. (274.32 x 289.56 x 274.32cm, 257.6kg, 274.32cm)
Materials Aluminum, Mylar, phenolic resins, aluminized Kapton, synthetic thread
Alternate Name Pioneer 10/11 Inventory Number A19770451000 Credit Line Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Open Access (CCO)
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