Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 07:42:16 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: fpspace@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU
Originator: fpspace@solar.cini.utk.edu
Sender: fpspace@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU
From: Simon Mansfield <simon@japan.co.jp>
To: Multiple recipients of list <fpspace@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU>
Subject: Distant Pioneer Needs New Home
X-Comment: Friends and Partners in Space
Distant Pioneer Needs New Home
10 Hours Out - The first interstellar explorer, Pioneer 10, is alive and well as its plutonium battery continues to feed a trickle of energy from its decaying core.
Pioneer 10 was launched from Earth on March 2, 1972, and became the first probe to flyby Jupiter in late 1973, and then became the first spacecraft to leave the Sol system.
On July 10, Pioneer 10 was commanded to make a precession maneuver that will keep its antenna aligned towards Earth until at least September, when it will start to drift aimlessly forever, unless re-funded.
http://spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/pioneer10-99a.html
Also see these Web sites:
http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/PNhome.html
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/database/www-nmc?72-012A
http://duke.ukc.ac.uk/Space/pioneer10.html
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Space.Science/Solar.System/Pioneer.1 0.and.11.Missions/.index.html
http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/other/plaque.html
http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-1.jpg http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-2.jpg http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-3.jpg http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-4.jpg