NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  1. Content with the tag: “outer solar system

  2. O, Pioneers! (part 2): The Derelicts of Space


    Pioneer Saturn encounterArtist's Concept of Pioneer 11's encounter with Saturn. Image Credit: NASA

    The Pioneer 10 and 11 missions were the first to visit the outer Solar System, and provided data that would help change views about life’s potential at such great distances from the Sun. They also set the stage for even more ambitious exploration missions through the asteroid belt and beyond. Before the Pioneer 11 spacecraft could venture beyond our solar system, it had to pass through the rings of Saturn. At the time, the rings were not well characterized and some thought the spacecraft could be destroyed. Whatever happened to Pioneer 11 at Saturn’s rings would affect...

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    Source: [astrobio.net]

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  3. O, Pioneers! (part 1): The Motes in Gods Eye


    Pioneer 10 journeyArtist’s concept of Pioneer 10 on its journey in space. Image Credit: NASA
    March 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of one of the most extraordinary spacecraft ever constructed – Pioneer 10 – the first true deep space probe. Pioneers 10 and 11 accomplished many scientific milestones, including successful journeys through the asteroid belt and the first ever close-up photographs of Jupiter and Saturn. The missions proved that robotic exploration of the outer Solar System was possible, and their scientific observations forever changed our view of the Earth’s celestial neighborhood.

    Source: [astrobio.net]

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