Pioneer Venus Small Probe (Day)

Third Small Probe of the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe mission. Pioneer Venus Small Probe (Day) was launched on August 8, 1978 aboard a Atlas SLV-3D Centaur from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left for deep space attached to another object (Aug 8, 1978).

COSPAR 1978-078GNORAD 12106United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Night Probe
Common name: Pioneer Venus Small Probe (Day)
Payload designation: Small Probe 3
International designator: 1978-078G
NORAD catalog number: 12106
GCAT identifier: S12106
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/047

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): PV Small Probe

Launch

Date: August 8, 1978 · 07:33 UTC
Launch record: 1978-078Success
Rocket: Atlas SLV-3D Centaur
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC36A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: 170 km
Inclination: 28.60°
Status: Left for deep space attached to another object
Status date: August 8, 1978
Last known active: Dec 9, 1978
End of operations: Dec 9, 1978

Size

Mass: 90 kg
Dry mass: 90 kg
Length: 1.0 m
Diameter: 0.80 m
Span: 1.0 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00593
Final central body: Venus
Phase start: December 7, 1978
Phase outcome: Reentered (orbital decay) · December 9, 1978
Destination: Venus

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Aug 8, 1978	Earth	Aug 13, 1978	Escaped to another body, attached	HCO

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Venus	Lander (low-velocity impact)	Targeted impact	Dec 9, 1978	—	-27.40, 56.70

Launched together

Pioneer Venus Probe BusDeep space · ARC Pioneer Venus Large ProbeDeep space · ARC Pioneer Venus Small Probe (North)Deep space · ARC Pioneer Venus Small Probe (Night)Deep space · ARC

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q113129838 (CC0).