Pioneer Venus Orbiter

NASA space probe to Venus. Pioneer Venus Orbiter was launched on May 20, 1978 aboard a Atlas SLV-3D Centaur from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (May 20, 1978).

COSPAR 1978-051ANORAD 10911United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Pioneer Venus Orbiter
Payload designation: Pioneer Venus 1
International designator: 1978-051A
NORAD catalog number: 10911
GCAT identifier: S10911
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/012

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Pioneer Venus
Owner: ARC
Country: United States
Builder: Hughes Space and Comms. Co (Hughes Satellite Systems)
Platform (bus): HS-507

Launch

Date: May 20, 1978 · 13:13 UTC
Launch record: 1978-051Success
Rocket: Atlas SLV-3D Centaur
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC36A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: 170 km
Inclination: 28.50°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: May 20, 1978
Last known active: Oct 22, 1992
End of operations: Oct 22, 1992

Size

Mass: 394 kg
Dry mass: 182 kg
Total mass with attached objects: 590 kg
Length: 1.2 m
Diameter: 2.50 m
Span: 4.6 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00584
Final central body: Venus
Phase start: December 1, 1978
Phase outcome: Entered orbit around the target · December 4, 1978
Destination: Venus

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
May 20, 1978	Earth	May 24, 1978	Escaped to another body	HCO
Dec 4, 1978	Venus	Oct 22, 1992	Reentered (orbital decay)	Venus

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Venus	Orbiter	Impact after orbital decay	Oct 22, 1992	—	—

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q1611468 (CC0).