This is a cutaway model of Pioneer 4, one of the early satellites designed for lunar exploration. It was equipped with Geiger counters to measure radiation in space. The sister ship of Pioneer 3, it was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 3, 1959, atop a Juno II rocket. Pioneer 4 successfully passed within 60,000 kilometers (37,300 miles) of the Moon the day after launch. The satellite was tracked for 82 hours to a distance of 655,000 kilometers (407,000 miles) from Earth, a record at that time. Pioneer 4 is now orbiting the Sun, the first U.S. spacecraft placed in solar orbit.
NASA transferred this model to the Museum in 1975.
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
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed
Manufacturer
NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dimensions
Overall: 1 ft. 8 in. tall x 9 in. wide (50.8 x 22.9cm)
Materials
Lens - glass with plastic housing
Overall - aluminum, vinyl covered wire, composite
Inventory Number
A19751426000
Credit Line
Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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