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The Pioneer MissionsThis article describes the major achievements of the Pioneer Missions and gives information about mission objectives, spacecraft, and launches of the Pioneers. Pioneer was the United States' longest running space program. The Pioneer Missions began forty years ago. Pioneer 1 was launched shortly after Sputnik startled the world in 1957 as Earth's first artificial satellite at the start of the space age. The Pioneer Missions can be broken down into four distinct groups: Pioneer (PN's) 1 through 5, which comprise the first group - the "First Pioneers" - were launched from 1958 through 1960. These Pioneers made the first thrusts into space toward the Moon and into interplanetary orbit. The next group - the "Interplanetary Pioneers" - consists of PN's 6 through 9, with the initial launch being in 1965 (through 1968); this group explored inward and outward from Earth's orbit and travel in a heliocentric orbit around the Sun just as the Earth. The Pioneer group consisting of 10 and 11 - the "Outer Solar System Pioneers" - blazed a trail through the asteroid belt and was the first to explore Jupiter, Saturn and the outer Solar System and is seeking the borders of the heliosphere and will ultimately journey to the distant stars. The final group of Pioneer 12 and 13 the "Planetary Pioneers" - traveled to Earth's mysterious twin, Venus, to study this planet.
Document ID
20020060778
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Contribution to a larger work
Authors
Larry E. Lasher
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Robert P. Hogan
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publisher: IOP Publishing
ISBN: 9780333750889
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 370-24-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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