NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Pioneer 11

Launch Time
Fri Apr 06, 1973 02:11 UTC

A Star 37E kick stage was used on this mission.

Rocket

Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1A
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
General Dynamics
Status: Retired
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0

Mission Details

Pioneer 11

Pioneer 11 (also known as Pioneer G) is a 259-kilogram (571 lb) robotic space probe launched by NASA to study the asteroid belt, the environment around Jupiter and Saturn, solar wind, and cosmic rays. It was the first probe to encounter Saturn and the second to fly through the asteroid belt and by Jupiter. Thereafter, Pioneer 11 became the second of five artificial objects to achieve the escape velocity that will allow them to leave the Solar System.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 259.0 kg
Heliocentric Orbit

Location

SLC-36B, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1973

19th orbital launch attempt

Atlas-Centaur

30th mission
1st mission of 1973
22nd successful mission
7th consecutive successful mission