View source for Astronomy:Pioneer 10

{{Short description|NASA space probe launched in March 1972}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = ''Pioneer 10''
| image                 = File:An artist's impression of a Pioneer spacecraft on its way to interstellar space.jpg
| image_caption         = Artist's conception of the ''Pioneer 10'' spacecraft

| mission_type          = Outer Solar System and<br>heliosphere exploration
| operator              = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] / [[Organization:Ames Research Center|ARC]]
| website               = [https://web.archive.org/web/20041105100336/http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/PNhome.html Pioneer Project website] <small>(archived)</small><br/> [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/pioneer/ NASA Archive page]
| COSPAR_ID             = 1972-012A
| SATCAT                = 5860
| mission_duration      = {{time interval|March 2, 1972|January 23, 2003}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer-10/in-depth/ |title=Pioneer 10 |publisher=NASA's Solar System Exploration website |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref>
| spacecraft_type       = 
| manufacturer          = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Company:TRW Inc.|TRW]]
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = 258 kg<ref>{{cite web|url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer-10/in-depth/ |title=Pioneer 10 |publisher=NASA's Solar System Exploration website |access-date=December 1, 2022}}</ref>
| power                 = 155&nbsp;watts (at launch)

| launch_date           = {{start date|1972|03|03}} at 01:49:04 UTC <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/10302731.pdf| title=A Summary of the Pioneer 10 Maneuver Strategy| date=October 1972}}</ref>
| launch_rocket         = {{nowrap|[[Engineering:Atlas-Centaur|Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D]] Star-37E}}
| launch_site           = {{wipe|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station}} LC-36A
| launch_contractor     =

| disposal_type         = 
| last_contact          = Last telemetry April 27, 2002; last signal received {{start date|2003|01|23}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/beyond_earth_detail.html | title=Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration| date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>

|interplanetary         = 
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = flyby
   |object              = [[Astronomy:Jupiter|Jupiter]]
   |distance            = {{convert|132,252|km|mi|abbr=on}}
   |arrival_date        = {{start date|1973|12|03}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer.html |title=The Pioneer Missions |date=March 26, 2007 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
 }}

<!--mission insignia or patch-->
| insignia              = Pioneer 10 - Pioneer 11 - mission patch - Pioneer patch.png
| insignia_caption      = <!--image caption-->
| insignia_alt          = <!--image alt text-->
| insignia_size         = 150

| instruments_list       = <!-- start collapsible list of instruments -->
{{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments
  |acronym1  = HMV | name1  = Helium Vector Magnetometer
  |acronym2  = -   | name2  = Quadrispherical Plasma Analyzer
  |acronym3  = CPI | name3  = Charged Particle Instrument
  |acronym4  = CRT | name4  = Cosmic Ray Telescope
  |acronym5  = GTT | name5  = [[Astronomy:Geiger tube telescope|Geiger Tube Telescope]]
  |acronym6  = TRD | name6  = Trapped Radiation Detector
  |acronym7  = -   | name7  = Meteoroid Detectors
  |acronym8  = AMD | name8  = Asteroid/Meteoroid Detector
  |acronym9  = -   | name9  = Ultraviolet Photometer
  |acronym10 = IPP | name10 = Imaging Photopolarimeter
  |acronym11 = -   | name11 = Infrared Radiometer
   }}

| programme             = ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer program|Pioneer]]''
| previous_mission      = ''[[Engineering:Pioneer 9|Pioneer 9]]''
| next_mission          = ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 11|Pioneer 11]]''
}}

'''''Pioneer 10''''' (originally designated '''Pioneer F''') is a [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] [[Engineering:Space probe|space probe]] launched in 1972 that completed the first mission to the planet [[Astronomy:Jupiter|Jupiter]].<ref name="PionOdys">{{cite book |title=SP-349/396 PIONEER ODYSSEY |last=Fimmel |first=R. O. |author2=W. Swindell|author3=E. Burgess |date=1974 |publisher=NASA-Ames Research Center |id=SP-349/396|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-349/ch8.htm |access-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref> ''Pioneer 10'' became the first of five planetary probes and 11 artificial objects to achieve the [[Astronomy:Escape velocity|escape velocity]] needed to [[Astronomy:Solar System#Farthest regions|leave the Solar System]]. This [[Astronomy:Space exploration|space exploration]] project was conducted by the NASA Ames Research Center in California. The space probe was manufactured by [[Company:TRW Inc.|TRW Inc.]]

''Pioneer 10'' was assembled around a hexagonal [[Engineering:Satellite bus|bus]] with a {{convert|2.74|m|sp=us|adj=on}} diameter parabolic dish [[Physics:Directional antenna|high-gain antenna]], and the spacecraft was [[Engineering:Spin-stabilisation|spin stabilized]] around the axis of the antenna. Its [[Physics:Electric power|electric power]] was supplied by four radioisotope thermoelectric generators that provided a combined 155&nbsp;watts at launch.

It was launched on March 3, 1972, at 01:49:00&nbsp;UTC (March&nbsp;2 local time), by an [[Engineering:Atlas-Centaur|Atlas-Centaur]] [[Engineering:Expendable launch system|expendable vehicle]] from {{wipe|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 36}}, Florida. Between July 15, 1972, and February 15, 1973, it became the first spacecraft to traverse the [[Astronomy:Asteroid belt#Exploration|asteroid belt]]. Photography of Jupiter began on November 6, 1973, at a range of {{convert|25|e6km|e6mi|lk=on|abbr=off|sp=us}}, and about 500 images were transmitted. The closest approach to the planet was on December 3, 1973, at a range of {{convert|132,252|km|sp=us}}. During the mission, the on-board instruments were used to study the asteroid belt, the environment around Jupiter, the [[Astronomy:Solar wind|solar wind]], [[Astronomy:Cosmic ray|cosmic ray]]s, and eventually the far reaches of the Solar System and [[Astronomy:Heliosphere|heliosphere]].<ref name="PionOdys" />

Radio communications were lost with ''Pioneer 10'' on January 23, 2003, because of the loss of electric power for its radio transmitter, with the probe at a distance of {{convert|12|e9km|AU e9mi|lk=on|abbr=unit|sp=us}} from Earth.

==Mission background==

===History===
In the 1960s, American aerospace engineer [[Biography:Gary Flandro|Gary Flandro]] of the NASA [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] conceived of a mission, known as the Planetary Grand Tour, that would exploit a rare alignment of the outer planets of the Solar System. This mission would ultimately be accomplished in the late 1970s by the two [[Astronomy:Voyager program|Voyager]] probes, but in order to prepare for it, NASA decided in 1964 to experiment with launching a pair of probes to the outer Solar System.{{sfn|Launius|2004|p=36}} An advocacy group named the Outer Space Panel and chaired by American space scientist James A. Van Allen, worked out the scientific rationale for exploring the outer planets.{{sfn|Van Allen|2001|p=155}}{{sfn|Burrows|1990|pp=16}} NASA [[Organization:Goddard Space Flight Center|Goddard]] Spaceflight Center put together a proposal for a pair of "Galactic Jupiter Probes" that would pass through the asteroid belt and visit Jupiter. These were to be launched in 1972 and 1973 during favorable windows that occurred only a few weeks every 13 months. Launch during other time intervals would have been more costly in terms of propellant requirements.{{sfn|Burrows|1999|p=476}}

Approved by NASA in February 1969,{{sfn|Burrows|1999|p=476}} the twin spacecraft were designated ''Pioneer&nbsp;F'' and ''Pioneer&nbsp;G'' before launch; later, they were named ''Pioneer 10'' and ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 11|Pioneer 11]]'' respectively. They formed part of the [[Astronomy:Pioneer program|Pioneer program]],{{sfn|Burgess|1982|p=16}} a series of United States uncrewed space missions launched between 1958 and 1978. This model was the first in the series to be designed for exploring the outer Solar System. Based on proposals issued throughout the 1960s, the early mission objectives were to explore the interplanetary medium past the orbit of Mars, study the asteroid belt and assess the possible hazard to spacecraft traveling through the belt, and explore Jupiter and its environment.<ref name=NASA_sp349_396/> Later development-stage objectives included the probe closely approaching Jupiter to provide data on the effect the environmental radiation surrounding Jupiter would have on the spacecraft instruments.

More than 150 scientific experiments were proposed for the missions.{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=144}} The experiments to be carried on the spacecraft were selected in a series of planning sessions during the 1960s, then were finalized by early 1970. These would be to perform imaging and [[Physics:Polarimetry|polarimetry]] of Jupiter and several of its satellites, make infrared and ultraviolet observations of Jupiter, detect asteroids and meteoroids, determine the composition of charged particles, and to measure magnetic fields, plasma, cosmic rays and the [[Astronomy:Zodiacal light|zodiacal light]].<ref name=NASA_sp349_396/> Observation of the spacecraft communications as it passed behind Jupiter would allow measurements of the planetary atmosphere, while tracking data would improve estimates of the mass of Jupiter and its moons.<ref name=NASA_sp349_396/>

NASA Ames Research Center, rather than Goddard, was selected to manage the project as part of the Pioneer program.{{sfn|Burrows|1999|p=476}} The Ames Research Center, under the direction of Charles F. Hall, was chosen because of its previous experience with spin-stabilized spacecraft. The requirements called for a small, lightweight spacecraft which was magnetically clean and which could perform an interplanetary mission. It was to use spacecraft modules that had already been proven in the ''Pioneer&nbsp;6'' through ''9'' missions.<ref name=NASA_sp349_396/> Ames commissioned a documentary film by George Van Valkenburg titled "Jupiter Odyssey". It received numerous international awards, and is visible on Van Valkenburg's YouTube channel.

In February 1970, Ames awarded a combined US$380&nbsp;million contract to [[Company:TRW Inc.|TRW Inc.]] for building both of the ''Pioneer&nbsp;10'' and ''11'' vehicles, bypassing the usual bidding process to save time. B. J. O'Brien and Herb Lassen led the TRW team that assembled the spacecraft.{{sfn|Dyer|1998|p=302}} Design and construction of the spacecraft required an estimated 25&nbsp;million man-hours.{{sfn|Wolverton|2004|p=124}}  An engineer from TRW said, "This spacecraft is guaranteed for two years of interplanetary flight. If any component fails within that warranty period, just return the spacecraft to our shop and we will repair it free of charge."<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://aviationweek.com/awin/pioneer-beat-warranty|title= PIONEER BEAT 'WARRANTY'|magazine= Aviation Week |access-date= September 15, 2017}}</ref>

To meet the schedule, the first launch would need to take place between February 29 and March 17 so that it could arrive at Jupiter in November 1974. This was later revised to an arrival date of December 1973 in order to avoid conflicts with other missions over the use of the Deep Space Network for communications, and to miss the period when Earth and Jupiter would be at opposite sides of the Sun. The encounter trajectory for ''Pioneer&nbsp;10'' was selected to maximize the information returned about the radiation environment around Jupiter, even if this caused damage to some systems. It would come within about three times the radius of the planet, which was thought to be the closest it could approach and still survive the radiation. The trajectory chosen would give the spacecraft a good view of the sunlit side.{{sfn|Burrows|1990|pp=16&ndash;19}}

<gallery mode=packed heights=180px>
File:Pioneer 10 systems diagram.svg|''Pioneer 10'' and ''Pioneer 11'' spacecraft diagram
{{multiple image
Pioneer 10 Construction.jpg|''Pioneer 10'' in the final stages of construction
Pioneer 10 on its kickmotor.jpg|''Pioneer 10'' on a Star-37E kick motor just prior to being encapsulated for launch
File:Centaur pio10.jpg|Pioneer 10 during encapsulation into payload fairing
File:NASM-NASM2016-00083.jpg|Reconstructed full-scale mock-up Pioneer 10 / 11 spacecraft at the National Air and Space Museum
</gallery>

===Spacecraft design===
The ''Pioneer 10'' bus measures {{convert|36|cm|in|sp=us}} deep and with six {{convert|76|cm|in|adj=on|sp=us}} long panels forming the hexagonal structure. The bus houses propellant to control the orientation of the probe and eight of the eleven scientific instruments. The equipment compartment lay within an aluminum honeycomb structure to provide protection from [[Astronomy:Meteoroid|meteoroid]]s. A layer of insulation, consisting of aluminized mylar and [[Chemistry:Kapton|kapton]] blankets, provides passive thermal control. Heat was generated by the dissipation of 70 to 120 [[Watt|watt]]s (W) from the electrical components inside the compartment. The heat range was maintained within the operating limits of the equipment by means of louvers located below the mounting platform.<ref name=prd65_8/> The spacecraft had a launch mass of about {{convert|260|kg|lb}}.<ref name="PionOdys"/>{{rp|42}}

At launch, the spacecraft carried {{convert|36|kg|lb|sp=us}} of liquid [[Chemistry:Hydrazine|hydrazine]] [[Engineering:Monopropellant rocket|monopropellant]] in a {{convert|42|cm|in|adj=on|sp=us}} diameter spherical tank.<ref name=prd65_8/> Orientation of the spacecraft is maintained with six 4.5 [[Newton (unit)|N]],<ref name='Astronautix'>{{cite encyclopedia | last = Wade | first = Mark | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Astronautica | title = Pioneer 10-11 | url = http://astronautix.com/craft/pior1011.htm | access-date = February 8, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120084730/http://astronautix.com/craft/pior1011.htm | archive-date = November 20, 2010 }}</ref> hydrazine thrusters mounted in three pairs. Pair one maintained a constant spin-rate of 4.8 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]], pair two controlled the forward thrust, and pair three controlled the attitude. The attitude pair were used in [[Engineering:Conical scanning|conical scanning]] maneuvers to track Earth in its orbit.<ref>{{cite web| title = Weebau Spaceflight Encyclopedia| date = November 9, 2010| url = http://weebau.com/satplan/pioneer%2010.htm| access-date = January 12, 2012}}</ref> Orientation information was also provided by a [[Astronomy:Star tracker#Star tracker|star sensor]] able to reference [[Astronomy:Canopus|Canopus]], and two [[Astronomy:Sun sensor|Sun sensor]]s.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|pp=46–47}}

====Power and communications====
[[File:Two of four SNAP 19 RTGs of a Pioneer space probe.jpg|thumb|Two of the SNAP-19 RTGs mounted on an extension boom]]

''Pioneer 10'' uses four SNAP-19 [[Physics:Radioisotope thermoelectric generator|radioisotope thermoelectric generator]]s (RTGs). They are positioned on two three-rod trusses, each {{convert|3|m|ft|sp=us}} in length and 120 degrees apart. This was expected to be a safe distance from the sensitive scientific experiments carried on board. Combined, the RTGs provided 155&nbsp;W at launch, and decayed to 140&nbsp;W in transit to Jupiter. The spacecraft required 100&nbsp;W to power all systems.<ref name="PionOdys"/>{{rp|44–45}} The generators are powered by the radioisotope fuel [[Physics:Plutonium-238|plutonium-238]], which is housed in a multi-layer capsule protected by a graphite heat shield.<ref name=skrabek_mcgrew1987/>

The pre-launch requirement for the SNAP-19 was to provide power for two years in space; this was greatly exceeded during the mission.<ref name=bennett_skrabek1996/> The plutonium-238 has a [[Physics:Half-life|half-life]] of 87.74 years, so that after 29 years the radiation being generated by the RTGs was at 80% of its intensity at launch. However, steady deterioration of the [[Physics:Thermocouple|thermocouple]] junctions led to a more rapid decay in electrical power generation, and by 2001 the total power output was 65&nbsp;W. As a result, later in the mission only selected instruments could be operated at any one time.<ref name=prd65_8/>

The space probe includes a redundant system of [[Transceiver|transceiver]]s, one attached to the narrow-beam, high-gain antenna, the other to an omni-antenna and medium-gain antenna. The parabolic dish for the high-gain antenna is {{convert|2.74|m|ft|sp=us}} in diameter and made from an aluminum honeycomb sandwich material. The spacecraft was spun about an axis that is parallel to the axis of this antenna so that it could remain oriented toward the Earth.<ref name=prd65_8/> Each transceiver is an 8&nbsp;W one and transmits data across the S-band using 2110&nbsp;MHz for the uplink from Earth and 2292&nbsp;MHz for the downlink to Earth with the Deep Space Network tracking the signal. Data to be transmitted is passed through a convolutional encoder so that most communication errors could be [[Error detection and correction|corrected]] by the receiving equipment on Earth.<ref name="PionOdys"/>{{rp|43}} The data transmission rate at launch was 256&nbsp;bit/s, with the rate degrading by about 1.27&nbsp;millibit/s for each day during the mission.<ref name=prd65_8/>

Much of the computation for the mission is performed on Earth and transmitted to the spacecraft, where it was able to retain in memory up to five commands of the 222 possible entries by ground controllers. The spacecraft includes two command decoders and a command distribution unit, a very limited form of a processor, to direct operations on the spacecraft. This system requires that mission operators prepare commands long in advance of transmitting them to the probe. A data storage unit is included to record up to 6,144&nbsp;bytes of information gathered by the instruments. The digital telemetry unit is used to prepare the collected data in one of the thirteen possible formats before transmitting it back to Earth.<ref name="PionOdys"/>{{rp|38}}
{{-}}

====Scientific instruments====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Helium Vector [[Physics:Magnetometer|Magnetometer]] ('''HVM''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P50 - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
This instrument measures the fine structure of the interplanetary magnetic field, mapped the Jovian magnetic field, and provided magnetic field measurements to evaluate solar wind interaction with Jupiter. The magnetometer consists of a helium-filled cell mounted on a 6.6&nbsp;m boom to partly isolate the instrument from the spacecraft's magnetic field.<ref name=NSSDCHVM/>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' Edward Smith / JPL</small>
*<small>'''Data:''' [http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/search/?filter=PN_5001&title=Pioneer_10_Helium_Vector_Magnetometer PDS/PPI data catalog], [https://web.archive.org/web/20111029195859/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/mag/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Quadrispherical [[Physics:Plasma|Plasma]] Analyzer
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P51b - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Peers through a hole in the large dish-shaped antenna to detect particles of the solar wind originating from the Sun.<ref name="NSSDCQPA">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-13|title= Quadrispherical Plasma Analyzer|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' Aaron Barnes / NASA Ames Research Center ([https://web.archive.org/web/20000520044455/http://arwen.arc.nasa.gov/ archived website])</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/search/?filter=PN_5001&title=Pioneer_10_Quadrispherical_Plasma_Analyser PDS/PPI data catalog], [https://web.archive.org/web/20111029195757/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/plasma/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Charged Particle Instrument ('''CPI''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P52a - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Detects cosmic rays in the Solar System.<ref name="NSSDCCPI">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-02|title= Charged Particle Instrument (CPI)|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' [[Biography:John Alexander Simpson|John Simpson]] / University of Chicago</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [https://web.archive.org/web/20151024040753/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/particle/cpi/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Cosmic Ray Telescope ('''CRT''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P52b - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Collects data on the composition of the cosmic ray particles and their energy ranges.<ref name="NSSDCCRT">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-12|title= Cosmic-Ray Spectra|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' [[Biography:Frank B. McDonald|Frank B. McDonald]] / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/search?filter=PN_5001&title=Pioneer_10_Cosmic_Ray_Telescope PDS/PPI data catalog], [https://web.archive.org/web/20151024014456/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/particle/crt/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Astronomy:Geiger tube telescope|Geiger Tube Telescope]] ('''GTT''')
|-
| {{center|[[File:Pioneer 10-11 - p53 - fx.jpg|100px]]}}
|
Surveys the intensities, energy spectra, and angular distributions of electrons and protons along the spacecraft's path through the radiation belts of Jupiter.<ref name="NSSDCGTT">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-11|title= Geiger Tube Telescope (GTT)|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' James A. Van Allen / University of Iowa ([http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/home.html website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112182657/http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/home.html |date=January 12, 2013 }})</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/search/?filter=PN_5001&title=Pioneer_10_Gieger_Tube_Telescope PDS/PPI data catalog], [https://web.archive.org/web/20151024012743/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/particle/gtt/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Trapped [[Physics:Radiation|Radiation]] Detector ('''TRD''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P54 - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Includes an ''unfocused Cerenkov counter'' that detects the light emitted in a particular direction as particles passed through it recording electrons of energy, 0.5 to 12 MeV, an ''electron scatter detector'' for electrons of energy, 100 to 400 keV, and a ''minimum ionizing detector'' consisting of a solid-state diode that measure minimum ionizing particles (<3 MeV)  and protons in the range of 50 to 350 MeV.<ref name="NSSDCTRD">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-05|title= Jovian Trapped Radiation|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' R. Fillius / University of California San Diego</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [https://web.archive.org/web/20151024040800/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/particle/trd/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | [[Astronomy:Meteoroid|Meteoroid]] Detectors
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P56 - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Twelve panels of pressurized cell detectors mounted on the back of the main dish antenna record penetrating impacts of small meteoroids.<ref name="NSSDCMD">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-04|title= Meteoroid Detectors|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' William Kinard / NASA Langley Research Center</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [https://web.archive.org/web/20121005062209/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/datasetSearch.do?spacecraft=Pioneer%2010&experiment=Meteoroid%20Detectors NSSDC data archive list]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Asteroid/Meteoroid Detector ('''AMD''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P55b - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Meteoroid-asteroid detector look into space with four non-imaging telescopes to track particles ranging from close by bits of dust to distant large asteroids.<ref name="NSSDCAMD">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-03|title= Asteroid/Meteoroid Astronomy|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' Robert Soberman / General Electric Company</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [https://web.archive.org/web/20111029195802/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/asteroid_meteoroid_astronomy/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Ultraviolet [[Physics:Photometer|Photometer]]
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P57a - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Ultraviolet light is sensed to determine the quantities of hydrogen and helium in space and on Jupiter.<ref name="NSSDCUVP">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-06|title= Ultraviolet Photometry|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' Darrell Judge / University of Southern California</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/search/?filter=PN_5001&title=Pioneer_10_Ultraviolet_Photometer PDS/PPI data catalog], [https://web.archive.org/web/20111029195830/http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/pioneer/pioneer10/uv/ NSSDC data archive]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Imaging [[Physics:Polarimeter|Photopolarimeter]] ('''IPP''')
|-
| [[File:Pioneer 10-11 - P60 - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
The imaging experiment relies upon the spin of the spacecraft to sweep a small telescope across the planet in narrow strips only 0.03 degrees wide, looking at the planet in red and blue light. These strips were then processed to build up a visual image of the planet.<ref name="NSSDCIPP">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-07|title= Imaging Photopolarimeter (IPP)|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' [[Biography:Tom Gehrels|Tom Gehrels]] / University of Arizona</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
*<small>'''Data:''' [https://web.archive.org/web/20121005062225/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/datasetSearch.do?spacecraft=Pioneer%2010&experiment=Imaging%20Photopolarimeter%20(IPP) NSSDC data archive list]</small>
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #e5e5e5"  | Infrared [[Physics:Radiometer|Radiometer]]
|-
| [[File:P58 - fx.jpg|150px]]
|
Provides information on cloud temperature and the output of heat from Jupiter.<ref name="NSSDCIRR">{{cite web |url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-08|title= Infrared Radiometers|publisher= NASA / National Space Science Data Center|access-date= February 19, 2011}}</ref>
*<small>'''Principal investigator:''' Andrew Ingersoll / California Institute of Technology</small>{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=146}}
|}

==Mission profile==

===Launch and trajectory===
[[File:Launch of Pioneer 10-2.jpg|thumb|The launch of ''Pioneer 10'']]

''Pioneer 10'' was launched on March 3, 1972, at 01:49:00&nbsp;UTC (8:49&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Standard Time on March&nbsp;2) by the [[Organization:National Aeronautics and Space Administration|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] from {{wipe|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 36}} in Florida, aboard an [[Engineering:Atlas-Centaur|Atlas-Centaur]] launch vehicle. The third stage consisted of a solid fuel Star-37E stage (TE-M-364-4) developed specifically for the Pioneer missions. This stage provided about {{Convert|15000|lb|kg}} of thrust and spun up the spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=NASA Glenn Pioneer Launch History | date=March 7, 2003
 | publisher=NASA/Glenn Research Center
 | url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/history/pioneer.html
 | access-date=June 13, 2011 }}</ref> The spacecraft had an initial spin rate of 30&nbsp;rpm. Twenty minutes following the launch, the vehicle's three booms were extended, which slowed the rotation rate to 4.8&nbsp;rpm. This rate was maintained throughout the voyage. The launch vehicle accelerated the probe for a net interval of 17&nbsp;minutes, reaching a velocity of {{Convert|51682|km/h|mph|abbr=unit}}.{{sfn|Rogers|1995|p=23}}

After the high-gain antenna was contacted, several of the instruments were activated for testing while the spacecraft was moving through the Earth's radiation belts. Ninety minutes after launch, the spacecraft reached interplanetary space.{{sfn|Rogers|1995|p=23}} ''Pioneer 10'' passed by the Moon in 11 hours{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=73}} and became the fastest human-made object at that time.{{sfn|Burrows|1990|pp=17}} Two days after launch, the scientific instruments were turned on, beginning with the cosmic ray telescope. After ten days, all of the instruments were active.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=73}}

During the first seven months of the journey, the spacecraft made three course corrections. The on-board instruments underwent checkouts, with the [[Physics:Photometer|photometer]]s examining Jupiter and the [[Astronomy:Zodiacal light|Zodiacal light]], and experiment packages being used to measure cosmic rays, magnetic fields and the solar wind. The only anomaly during this interval was the failure of the Canopus sensor, which instead required the spacecraft to maintain its orientation using the two Sun sensors.{{sfn|Rogers|1995|p=23}}

While passing through [[Astronomy:Interplanetary medium|interplanetary medium]], ''Pioneer 10'' became the first mission to detect interplanetary atoms of helium. It also observed high-energy ions of aluminum and sodium in the [[Astronomy:Solar wind|solar wind]]. The spacecraft recorded important [[Physics:Heliophysics|heliophysics]] data in early August 1972 by registering a [[Astronomy:Solar storm of August 1972|solar shock wave]] when it was at a distance of {{Convert|2.2|AU|e6km e6mi|abbr=unit}}.<ref name="Knipp">{{cite journal |last = Knipp |first = Delores J. |author2 = B. J. Fraser |author3 = M. A. Shea |author4 = D. F. Smart |title = On the Little‐Known Consequences of the 4 August 1972 Ultra‐Fast Coronal Mass Ejecta: Facts, Commentary and Call to Action |journal = Space Weather |volume = 16 |issue = 11|pages = 1635–1643|date = 2018 |doi = 10.1029/2018SW002024 |bibcode = 2018SpWea..16.1635K |doi-access = free }}</ref> On July 15, 1972, ''Pioneer 10'' was the first spacecraft to enter the asteroid belt,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/beyond-earth-tagged.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/beyond-earth-tagged.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016|page=1|last1=Siddiqi|first1=Asif A.|lccn=2017059404|isbn=9781626830424|publisher=NASA History Program Office|edition=second|year=2018|id=SP2018-4041|series=The NASA history series|location=Washington, DC}}</ref> located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The project planners expected a safe passage through the belt, and the closest the trajectory would take the spacecraft to any of the known asteroids was {{convert|8.8|e6km|e6mi|abbr=off|sp=us}}. One of the nearest approaches was to the asteroid [[Astronomy:307 Nike|307 Nike]] on December 2, 1972.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=75}}

The on-board experiments demonstrated a deficiency of particles below a [[Micrometre|micrometer]] (μm) in the belt, as compared to the vicinity of the Earth. The density of dust particles between 10 and 100&nbsp;μm did not vary significantly during the trip from the Earth to the outer edge of the belt. Only for particles with a diameter of 100&nbsp;μm to 1.0&nbsp;mm did the density show an increase, by a factor of three in the region of the belt. No fragments larger than a millimeter were observed in the belt, indicating these are likely rare; certainly much less common than anticipated. As the spacecraft did not collide with any particles of substantial size, it passed safely through the belt, emerging on the other side about February 15, 1973.<ref name=ns57_835_470/>{{sfn|Burgess|1982|p=32}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:72413main_ACD97-0036-3.jpg|alt=Official NASA map of the ''Pioneer 10'', ''Pioneer 11'', ''Voyager 1'', and ''Voyager 2'' spacecraft's trajectories through the Solar System.|NASA map showing trajectories of the ''Pioneer 10'', ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 11|Pioneer 11]]'', ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 1|Voyager 1]]'', and ''Voyager 2'' spacecraft.
Pioneer 10 December 4 1973 Jupiter.png|''Pioneer 10's'' trajectory through the Jovian system
File:Animation of Pioneer 10 trajectory.gif|Animation of ''Pioneer 10''{{'s}} trajectory from March 3, 1972, to December 31, 1975<br>{{legend2|magenta| ''Pioneer 10'' }}{{·}}{{legend2|Royalblue|[[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]]}}{{·}}{{legend2| Lime |[[Astronomy:Jupiter|Jupiter]]}}
File:Animation of Pioneer 10 trajectory around Jupiter.gif|Animation of Pioneer 10's trajectory around Jupiter<br>{{legend2|magenta| ''Pioneer 10'' }}{{·}}{{legend2|Lime|Jupiter}}{{·}}{{legend2|OrangeRed|Io}}{{·}}{{legend2|RoyalBlue|Europa}}{{·}}{{legend2|Gold|Ganymede}}{{·}}{{legend2|Cyan|Callisto}}
</gallery>

===Encounter with Jupiter===
[[File:Pioneer 10 - Ganymede - P102a.jpg|thumb|The moon Ganymede as imaged by ''Pioneer 10'']]

On November 6, 1973, the ''Pioneer 10'' spacecraft was at a distance of {{convert|25|e6km|sp=us|e6mi|abbr=unit}} from Jupiter. Testing of the imaging system began, and the data were successfully received back at the Deep Space Network. A series of 16,000 commands were then uploaded to the spacecraft to control the flyby operations during the next sixty days. The orbit of the outer moon [[Astronomy:Sinope (moon)|Sinope]] was crossed on November&nbsp;8. The [[Astronomy:Bow shock|bow shock]] of Jupiter's magnetosphere was reached on November 16, as indicated by a drop in the velocity of the [[Astronomy:Solar wind|solar wind]] from {{convert|451|km/s|abbr=on|sp=us}} to {{convert|225|km/s|abbr=on|sp=us}}. The [[Astronomy:Magnetopause|magnetopause]] was passed through a day later. The spacecraft instruments confirmed that the magnetic field of Jupiter was inverted compared to that of Earth. By the 29th, the orbits of all of the outermost moons had been passed, and the spacecraft was operating flawlessly.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|pp=79–93}}

Red and blue pictures of Jupiter were being generated by the imaging photopolarimeter as the rotation of the spacecraft carried the instrument's field of view past the planet. These red and blue colors were combined to produce a synthetic green image, allowing a three-color combination to produce the rendered image. On November 26, a total of twelve such images were received back on Earth. By December 2, the image quality exceeded the best images made from Earth. These were being displayed in real-time back on Earth, and the Pioneer program would later receive an Emmy award for this presentation to the media. The motion of the spacecraft produced geometric distortions that later had to be corrected by computer processing.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|pp=79–93}} During the encounter, a total of more than 500 images were transmitted.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=170}}

The trajectory of the spacecraft took it along the magnetic equator of Jupiter, where the [[Physics:Particle radiation|ion radiation]] was concentrated.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=93}} Peak [[Physics:Flux|flux]] for this electron radiation is 10,000 times stronger than the maximum radiation around the Earth.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=126}} Starting on December 3, the radiation around Jupiter caused false commands to be generated. Most of these were corrected by contingency commands, but an image of [[Astronomy:Io (moon)|Io]] and a few close-ups of Jupiter were lost. Similar false commands would be generated on the way out from the planet.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|pp=79–93}} Nonetheless, ''Pioneer 10'' did succeed in obtaining images of the moons [[Astronomy:Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]] and [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]]. The image of Ganymede showed low [[Earth:Albedo|albedo]] features in the center and near the south pole, while the north pole appeared brighter. Europa was too far away to obtain a detailed image, although some albedo features were apparent.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=121}}

The trajectory of ''Pioneer 10'' was chosen to take it behind Io, allowing the [[Physics:Refraction|refractive effect]] of the moon's atmosphere on the radio transmissions to be measured. This demonstrated that the [[Astronomy:Ionosphere|ionosphere]] of the moon was about {{convert|700|km|sp=us}} above the surface of the day side, and the density ranged from 60,000 electrons per cubic centimeter on the dayside to 9,000 electrons per cubic centimeter on the night face. An unexpected discovery was that Io was orbiting within a cloud of hydrogen that extended for about {{convert|805,000|km|sp=us}}, with a width and height of {{convert|402,000|km|sp=us}}. A smaller, {{convert|110,000|km|mi|sp=us|adj=mid}} cloud was believed to have been detected near Europa.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=121}}

It was not until after ''Pioneer 10'' had cleared the asteroid belt that NASA selected a trajectory towards Jupiter that offered the slingshot effect that would send the spacecraft out of the Solar System. ''Pioneer 10'' was the first spacecraft to attempt such a maneuver and became a proof of concept for the missions that would follow. Such an extended mission was not in the initial proposal, but was planned for prior to launch.<ref>{{cite news|title=NASA says 'bye bye Birdie' to Pioneer 10 Spacecraft|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/10191839|access-date=December 6, 2017|work=The Salina Journal|date=June 13, 1983}}</ref>

At the closest approach, the velocity of the spacecraft reached {{Convert|132000|km/h|mph m/s|abbr=unit}},{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=79}} and it came within {{convert|132,252|km|sp=us}} of the outer atmosphere of Jupiter. Close-up images of the Great Red Spot and the terminator were obtained. Communication with the spacecraft then ceased as it passed behind the planet.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=93}} The [[Astronomy:Radio occultation|radio occultation]] data allowed the temperature structure of the outer atmosphere to be measured, showing a temperature inversion between the altitudes with 10 and 100&nbsp;mbar pressures. Temperatures at the 10-mbar level ranged from {{convert|-133|to|-113|C|lk=on|K F}}, while temperatures at the 100&nbsp;mbar level were {{convert|-183|to|-163|C|K F}}.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=135}} The spacecraft generated an infrared map of the planet, which confirmed the idea that the planet radiated more heat than it received from the Sun.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=141}}

Crescent images of the planet were then returned as  ''Pioneer 10''  moved away from the planet.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=90}} As the spacecraft headed outward, it again passed the bow shock of Jupiter's magnetosphere. As this front is constantly shifting in space because of dynamic interaction with the solar wind, the vehicle crossed the bow shock a total of 17 times before it escaped completely.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|pp=123–124}}

===Deep space===
''Pioneer 10''  crossed the orbit of Saturn in 1976 and the orbit of Uranus in 1979.{{sfn|Fimmel|van_Allen|Burgess|1980|p=91}} On June 13, 1983, the craft crossed the orbit of [[Astronomy:Neptune|Neptune]], at that time the outermost planet, and so became the first human-made object to leave the proximity of the major planets of the Solar System. The mission came to an official end on March 31, 1997, when it had reached a distance of {{Convert|67|AU|e9km e9mi|abbr=unit}} from the Sun, though the spacecraft was still able to transmit coherent data after this date.<ref name=prd65_8/>

After March 31, 1997, ''Pioneer 10''{{'}}s weak signal continued to be tracked by the Deep Space Network to aid the training of flight controllers in the process of acquiring deep-space radio signals. There was an [[Organization:NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts|Advanced Concepts]] study applying [[Chaos theory|chaos theory]] to extract coherent data from the fading signal.<ref name=phillips2001/>

The last successful reception of [[Telemetry|telemetry]] was received from ''Pioneer 10'' on April 27, 2002; subsequent signals were barely strong enough to detect and provided no usable data. The final, very weak signal from ''Pioneer 10'' was received on January 23, 2003, when it was {{Convert|12|e9km|AU e9mi|abbr=unit}} from Earth.<ref>"This Month in History", ''Smithsonian'' magazine, June 2003.</ref> Further attempts to contact the spacecraft were unsuccessful. A final attempt was made on the evening of March 4, 2006, the last time the antenna would be correctly aligned with Earth. No response was received from ''Pioneer 10''.<ref name=lakdawalla2006/> NASA decided that the RTG units had probably fallen below the power threshold needed to operate the transmitter. Hence, no further attempts at contact were made.{{sfn|Angelo|2007|p=221}}

=== Timeline ===
[[File:Pioneer speed and distance from Sun.svg|thumb|right|Pioneer 10 and 11 speed and distance from the Sun]]

{|
|-
! colspan="2" | Timeline of travel
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Date
! Event
|-
| {{center|1972-03-03}}
| Spacecraft launched
|-
| {{center|1972-06-}}
| Crossed orbit of Mars
|-
| {{center|1972-07-15}}
| Entered the asteroid belt
|-
| {{center|1972-07-15}}
| Start Jupiter observation phase
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Time
! scope="col" style="width:230px;"| Event
|-
| {{center|'''1973-12-03'''}}
| '''Encounter with Jovian system'''
|-
| {{center|12:26:00}}
| [[Astronomy:Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] flyby at {{Convert|1392300|km|mi|abbr=unit}}
|-
| {{center|13:56:00}}
| [[Astronomy:Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]] flyby at {{Convert|446250|km|mi|abbr=unit}}
|-
| {{center|19:26:00}}
| [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]] flyby at 321,000&nbsp;km
|-
| {{center|22:56:00}}
| [[Astronomy:Io (moon)|Io]] flyby at 357,000&nbsp;km
|-
| {{center|'''1973-12-04'''}}
|
|-
| {{center|02:26:00}}
| Jupiter closest approach at 200,000&nbsp;km
|-
| {{center|02:36:00}}
| Jupiter equator plane crossing
|-
| {{center|02:41:45}}
| Io [[Astronomy:Occultation|occultation]] entry
|-
| {{center|02:43:16}}
| Io occultation exit
|-
| {{center|03:42:25}}
| Jupiter occultation entry
|-
| {{center|03:42:25}}
| Jupiter shadow entry
|-
| {{center|04:15:35}}
| Jupiter occultation exit
|-
| {{center|04:47:21}}
| Jupiter shadow exit
|-
| {{center|'''1974-01-01'''}}
| '''Phase stop'''
|}
|-
| {{center|1974-01-01}}
| Begin Pioneer Interstellar Mission
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" scope="col" style="width:460px;"| More
|-
| scope="col" style="width:100px;" | {{center|1975-02-10}}
| scope="col" style="width:350px;"| The US Post Office issued a commemorative stamp featuring the ''Pioneer 10'' space probe [[:File:Pioneer Jupiter 1975 Issue-10c.jpg|''('''See image''')'']].
|-
| {{center|1983-04-25}}
| Crossed orbit of [[Astronomy:Pluto|Pluto]], still defined as a planet at the time (Pluto's irregular orbit meant it was closer to the Sun than Neptune).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/042683sci-nasa-neptune.html|title=Pioneer 10 Pushes Beyond Goals, Into the Unknown|last=Wilford|first=John Noble|date=April 26, 1983|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|1983-06-13}}
| Crossed orbit of [[Astronomy:Neptune|Neptune]], the furthest planet away from the Sun at the time, to become the first human-made object to depart the Solar System.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Pioneer_10&StartYear=1970&EndYear=1979&Display=ReadMore|title=Pioneer 10|work=Solar System Exploration|publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]|access-date=June 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005075426/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Pioneer_10&StartYear=1970&EndYear=1979&Display=ReadMore|archive-date=October 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> By dialing 1-900-410-4111, one could access a recording provided by TRW that was made by slowing down and converting ''Pioneer 10's'' data feed to analog sounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14087892/|title=The Galveston Daily News|work=The Galveston Daily News on June 13, 1983|date=June 13, 1983 |publisher=The Galveston Daily News|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|1997-03-31}}
| End of mission. Contact is maintained with spacecraft to record telemetry.<ref name="Voyager passes">{{cite web |url=http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/update.html |title=Update on Pioneer 10 |last1=Allen |first1=J. A. Van |date=February 17, 1998 |publisher=University of Iowa |access-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|1998-02-17}}
|  ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 1|Voyager 1]]'' overtakes  ''Pioneer 10''  as the most distant human-made object from the Sun, at 69.419&nbsp;AU. ''Voyager 1'' is moving away from the Sun over 1&nbsp;AU per year faster than ''Pioneer 10''.<ref name="Voyager passes" />
|-
| {{center|2002-03-02}}
| Successful reception of telemetry. 39 minutes of clean data received from a distance of 79.83&nbsp;AU<ref name="EoM">{{cite web |url=http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/farewell.html |title=Update on Pioneer 10 |last1=Allen |first1=J. A. Van |date=February 20, 2003 |publisher=University of Iowa |access-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{center|2002-04-27}}
| Last successful reception of telemetry. 33 minutes of clean data received from a distance of 80.22 AU<ref name="EoM" />
|-
| {{center|2003-01-23}}
| Final signal received from the spacecraft. Reception was very weak and subsequent signals were barely strong enough to detect.<ref name="EoM" />
|-
| {{center|2003-02-07}}
| Unsuccessful attempt to contact spacecraft<ref name="EoM" />
|-
| {{center|2023-07-18}}
| Projections indicate that [[Astronomy:Voyager 2|Voyager 2]] overtook Pioneer 10 as the second farthest spacecraft from the Sun<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between the Sun and Voyager 2 |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27Sun%27&START_TIME=%272023-07-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-08-01%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20day%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27500@-32%27 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between the Sun and Pioneer 10 |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27Sun%27&START_TIME=%272023-07-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-08-01%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20day%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27500@-23%27 }}</ref>
|}
|}

==Current status and future==
On July 18, 2023, ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 2|Voyager 2]]'' overtook ''Pioneer 10'', making ''Pioneer 10'' the third furthest spacecraft from the Sun after ''Voyager 1'' and ''Voyager 2''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between the Sun and Voyager 2 |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27Sun%27&START_TIME=%272023-07-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-08-01%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20day%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27500@-32%27 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance between the Sun and Pioneer 10 |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27Sun%27&START_TIME=%272023-07-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-08-01%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20day%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27500@-23%27 }}</ref> Sunlight takes 18.7&nbsp;hours to reach ''Pioneer 10''. The brightness of the Sun from the spacecraft is magnitude &minus;16.1.<ref name="Peat-20120909" /> ''Pioneer 10'' is currently travelling in the direction of the constellation [[Astronomy:Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]].<ref name="Peat-20120909">{{cite web |last=Peat |first=Chris |title=Spacecraft escaping the Solar System |url=http://www.heavens-above.com/SolarEscape.aspx |date=September 9, 2012 |publisher=Heavens-Above |access-date=September 9, 2019 }}</ref>

If left undisturbed, ''Pioneer 10'' and its sister craft ''Pioneer 11'' will join the two Voyager spacecraft and the ''[[Astronomy:New Horizons|New Horizons]]'' spacecraft in leaving the Solar System to wander the [[Astronomy:Interstellar medium|interstellar medium]]. The ''Pioneer 10'' trajectory is expected to take it in the general direction of the star [[Astronomy:Aldebaran|Aldebaran]], currently located at a distance of about 68&nbsp;[[Light year|light year]]s. If Aldebaran had zero [[Physics:Relative velocity|relative velocity]], it would require more than two million years for the spacecraft to reach it.<ref name=prd65_8/><ref name="Peat-20120909"/> Well before that, in about 90,000 years, ''Pioneer 10'' will pass about {{Convert|0.23|pc|ly|abbr=off|lk=on}} from the late [[Astronomy:K-type star|K-type star]] HIP&nbsp;117795.<ref name="Future stellar flybys of the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft">{{cite journal |title=Future stellar flybys of the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft |journal=Research Notes of the AAS |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=59 |date=April 3, 2019 |doi=10.3847/2515-5172/ab158e |last1=Bailer-Jones |first1=Coryn A. L. |last2=Farnocchia |first2=Davide |s2cid=134524048 |arxiv=1912.03503 |bibcode=2019RNAAS...3...59B |doi-access=free }}</ref> This is the closest stellar flyby in the next few million years of all the ''Pioneer'', ''Voyager'', and ''New&nbsp;Horizons'' spacecraft, which are leaving the Solar System.

A backup unit, ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer H|Pioneer H]]'', is currently on display in the "Milestones of Flight" gallery at the National Air and Space Museum in [[Place:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]]<ref name=smithsonian/> Many elements of the mission proved to be critical in the planning of the Voyager program.{{sfn|Burrows|1990|pp=266–8}}

==Pioneer plaque==
{{Main|Pioneer plaque}}
[[File:Pioneer10-plaque tilt.jpg|thumb|''Pioneer'' Plaque]]
Because it was strongly advocated by [[Biography:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]],{{sfn|Dyer|1998|p=302}} ''Pioneer 10'' and ''Pioneer 11'' carry a {{convert|152|by|229|mm|inch|abbr=on|sp=us}} gold-anodized aluminum [[Social:Commemorative plaque|plaque]] in case either spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life-forms from another planetary system. The plaques feature the nude figures of a human male and female along with several symbols that are designed to provide information about the origin of the spacecraft.<ref name=Sagan1972>{{cite journal| doi=10.1126/science.175.4024.881| title=A Message from Earth | author=Carl Sagan | author2=Linda Salzman Sagan | author3=Frank Drake | name-list-style=amp| journal=Science | volume= 175| issue=4024 | pages=881–884 | date= February 25, 1972| pmid=17781060 | bibcode=1972Sci...175..881S}} Paper on the background of the plaque. Pages available online: [http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-1.jpg 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228112355/http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-1.jpg |date=February 28, 2008 }}, [http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-2.jpg 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228112354/http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-2.jpg |date=February 28, 2008 }}, [http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-3.jpg 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228112351/http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-3.jpg |date=February 28, 2008 }}, [http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-4.jpg 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228112353/http://www.enterprisemission.com/images/plaque-4.jpg |date=February 28, 2008 }}</ref> The plaque is attached to the antenna support struts where it would be shielded from interstellar dust.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Plaque|url=https://space.physics.uiowa.edu/pioneer/other/plaque.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>

==''Pioneer 10'' in popular media==
In the film ''Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'', a Klingon Bird-of-Prey destroys ''Pioneer 10'' as target practice.<ref name="OkudaOkuda2011">{{cite book|last1=Okuda|first1=Michael|last2=Okuda|first2=Denise|last3=Mirek|first3=Debbie|title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbYf2l7gczUC&pg=PT1716|access-date=June 11, 2018|date=May 17, 2011|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781451646887|page=1716 }}</ref>

In the serialized speculative fiction multimedia narrative ''[[17776|17776]]'', one of the main characters is a sentient ''Pioneer 10''.

== See also ==
* [[Astronomy:Exploration of Jupiter|Exploration of Jupiter]]
** ''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 11|Pioneer 11]]'', Jupiter and Saturn fly-by
** ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 1|Voyager 1]]'' and ''[[Astronomy:Voyager 2|Voyager 2]]'', Jupiter fly-by en route to other outer Solar System fly-bys
** ''[[Engineering:Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]]'', Jupiter orbiter
** ''[[Astronomy:Cassini–Huygens|Cassini–Huygens]]'', Jupiter fly-by for Saturn orbiter and Titan lander, respectively
** ''[[Astronomy:New Horizons|New Horizons]]'', Jupiter flyby en route to Pluto fly-by
** ''[[Engineering:Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]]'', Jupiter polar orbiter
* List of artificial objects leaving the Solar System
* [[Astronomy:List of missions to the outer planets|List of missions to the outer planets]]
* [[Astronomy:Pioneer anomaly|Pioneer anomaly]]
* [[Engineering:Robotic spacecraft|Robotic spacecraft]]
* [[Engineering:Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes|Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes]]
* ''[[17776|17776]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=prd65_8>{{cite journal | last1=Anderson | first1=John D. | display-authors=2 | title=Study of the anomalous acceleration of Pioneer 10 and 11 | journal=Physical Review D | volume=65 | issue=8 | pages=082004 |date=April 2002 | doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.65.082004 | bibcode=2002PhRvD..65h2004A |arxiv = gr-qc/0104064 | last2=Laing | first2=Philip A. | last3=Lau | first3=Eunice L. | last4=Liu | first4=Anthony S. | last5=Nieto | first5=Michael Martin | last6=Turyshev | first6=Slava G. | s2cid=92994412 }}</ref>

<ref name=NASA_sp349_396>{{cite web | first=Hans | last=Mark |date=August 1974 | title=The Pioneer Jupiter Mission | work=SP-349/396 Pioneer Odyssey | publisher=NASA | url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-349/ch2.htm | access-date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref>

<!--<ref name=nearest_star>{{cite web | title=Cosmic Distance Scales - The Nearest Star | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cosmic/nearest_star_info.html | publisher=NASA | access-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>  -->

<ref name=phillips2001>{{cite news | first=Tony | last=Phillips | date=May 3, 2001 | title=Seven billion miles and counting | publisher=High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center, NASA | url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast03may_1/ | access-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=lakdawalla2006>{{cite web | first=Emily | last=Lakdawalla | date=March 6, 2006 | title=The final attempt to contact Pioneer 10 | publisher=The Planetary Society | url=http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00000477/ | access-date=June 7, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616131231/http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00000477/ | archive-date=June 16, 2006 }}</ref> <!-- Broken link, replace with Web Archive copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20120126131706/http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/pioneer_anomaly/update_200603.html -->

<ref name=smithsonian>{{cite web | url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/index.cfm#pioneer10 | access-date=June 7, 2011 | title=Milestones of Flight | publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | archive-date=April 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415154411/http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/index.cfm#pioneer10 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name=skrabek_mcgrew1987>{{cite conference | author=Skrabek, E. A. | author2=McGrew, John W. | title=Pioneer 10 and 11 RTG performance update | book-title=Transactions of the Fourth Symposium on Space Nuclear Power Systems | date=January 12–16, 1987 | location=Albuquerque, New Mexico | pages=201–204 | bibcode=1987snps.symp..201S }}</ref>

<ref name=bennett_skrabek1996>{{cite conference | author=Bennett, G.L. | author2=Skrabek, E.A. | title=Power performance of US space radioisotope thermoelectric generators | book-title=Fifteenth International Conference on Thermoelectrics | date=March 26–29, 1996 | pages=357–372 | location=Pasadena, CA | doi=10.1109/ICT.1996.553506 }}</ref>

<ref name=NSSDCHVM>{{cite web | first=Edward J. | last=Smith | url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-012A-01 | title=Magnetic Fields |publisher =NASA / National Space Science Data Center | access-date=February 19, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ns57_835_470>{{cite journal | author=Staff | date=March 1, 1973 | title=Pioneer 10 beats the asteroid belt | page=470 | journal=New Scientist | volume=57 | issue=835 | publisher=New Scientist Publications | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fmip1KhHnrUC&pg=PA470 }}</ref>

}}

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{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer.html Pioneer Project Archive Page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070801221338/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Pioneer_10 ''Pioneer 10'' Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov NASA's Solar System Exploration]
* [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-012A NSSDC ''Pioneer 10'' page]
* {{Internet Archive film | JupiterOdyssey | Jupiter Odyssey (1974)}}

{{Pioneer program | before=''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 6, 7, 8, and 9|''Pioneer 6, 7, 8'' and ''9'']] | after=''[[Astronomy:Pioneer 11|Pioneer 11]]'' }}
{{Jupiter spacecraft}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Solar System probes}}
{{NASA navbox}}
{{TRW}}

[[Category:Derelict space probes]]
[[Category:Extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Missions to Jupiter]]
[[Category:Pioneer program]]
[[Category:Spacecraft escaping the Solar System]]

{{Sourceattribution|Pioneer 10}}