Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Spacecraft

Pioneer 10

Also Known As Pioneer F
Space Probe

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A NASA spacecraft built by TRW Inc. and launched in March 1972 as the first mission to visit Jupiter and the first spacecraft to traverse the asteroid belt. It was among the first human-made objects to achieve solar-system escape velocity and carried a plaque intended for any intelligent life that might one day encounter it; its trajectory gave rise to the long-studied Pioneer anomaly.

Facts
Spacecraft Type
Space Probe 1
Launch Date
1972-03-03 1
Manufacturer
TRW Inc. 1
Status
Retired; last contact was received on 23 January 2003 as its signal faded with distance. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Pioneer 10 was built by TRW Inc., acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002; a predecessor-institution fact per the atlas's own voice convention.

Operated By

Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPioneer 10, infobox heading
Quote, Pioneer 10, infobox heading
First spacecraft to visit Jupiter and the outer Solar System
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPioneer 10, Mission background section
Quote, Pioneer 10, Mission background section
March 3, 1972, at 01:49:00 UTC (March 2 local time)
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPioneer 10, infobox
Quote, Pioneer 10, infobox
TRW Inc.
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPioneer 10, lead paragraph section
Quote, Pioneer 10, lead paragraph section
originally designated Pioneer F
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Northrop Grumman, Pioneer 10, Mission background section; TRW Inc., Decline and acquisition section
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