Pioneer 10

NASA space probe launched in March 1972. Pioneer 10 was launched on March 3, 1972 aboard a Atlas SLV-3C Centaur from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Mar 3, 1972).

COSPAR 1972-012ANORAD 5860United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Pioneer 10
Payload designation: Pioneer F
International designator: 1972-012A
NORAD catalog number: 5860
GCAT identifier: S05860
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.255

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Pioneer J
Owner: ARC
Country: United States
Builder: TRW Inc.
Platform (bus): Pioneer F

Launch

Date: March 3, 1972 · 01:49 UTC
Launch record: 1972-012Success
Rocket: Atlas SLV-3C Centaur
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC36A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: 186 km
Inclination: 31.48°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: March 3, 1972
Last known active: Jan 22, 2003
End of operations: Jan 22, 2003

Size

Mass: 270 kg
Dry mass: 243 kg
Length: 2.9 m
Diameter: 2.70 m
Span: 8.0 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00431
Final central body: Jupiter
Phase start: October 1, 1973
Phase outcome: Flyby · February 12, 1974
Destination: HCO

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Mar 3, 1972	Earth	Mar 4, 1972	Escaped to another body	HCO

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q59103 (CC0).