Pioneer 4

U.S. space probe which performed a lunar flyby. Pioneer 4 was launched on March 3, 1959 aboard a Juno II from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Mar 3, 1959).

COSPAR 1959 NU 1NORAD 113United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Pioneer IV
Common name: Pioneer 4
Payload designation: Pioneer 4
International designator: 1959 NU 1
NORAD catalog number: 113
GCAT identifier: S00113
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.001

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Pioneer (Army)
Owner: ABMA
Country: United States
Builder: Jet Propulsion Lab
Platform (bus): Juno II Probe

Launch

Date: March 3, 1959 · 05:10 UTC
Launch record: 1959 NUSuccess
Rocket: Juno II
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC5

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: -45 km
Inclination: 29.00°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: March 3, 1959
Last known active: Mar 6, 1959
End of operations: Mar 6, 1959

Size

Mass: 7 kg
Dry mass: 7 kg
Length: 0.6 m
Diameter: 0.20 m
Span: 0.6 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00003
Final central body: Luna
Phase start: March 4, 1959
Phase outcome: Flyby · March 5, 1959
Destination: Earth

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Mar 3, 1959	Earth	Mar 4, 1959	Escaped to another body	Luna
Mar 5, 1959	Earth	Mar 12, 1959	Escaped to another body	HCO

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q597119 (CC0).