Flare Sci-fi Forums
Flare Sci-Fi Forums Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Flare Sci-Fi Forums » Community » Officers' Lounge » Pioneer 10 - truely remarkable!

   
Author Topic: Pioneer 10 - truely remarkable!
AndrewR
Resident Nut-cache
Member # 44

 - posted      Profile for AndrewR     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I think this is simply wonderful! Still going after 30 years!!

from sci.space.news

quote:
From Larry Lasher, Pioneer Project Manager
Subject: Pioneer-10 30 Year Launch Anniversary Track

Pioneer-10 was successfully contacted today. Yesterday, about 3pm
PST a 200 Kw uplink transmission from Goldstone California, the 70
meter DSN antenna DSS-14, was sent to Pioneer-10 and 22 hours later
in Madrid Spain at the DSN 70 meter antenna DSS-63 the confirmation
of contact was received. From a distance of 79.7 AU DSS-63 acquired
the signal on time at about -183 dbm. They spent an hour peaking the
signal (-178.5 dbm) and then they were able to lock up telemetry at
16 bps at an SNR of -0.5 db. Tracking continued until the elevation
was about 20 degrees but enough telemetry was received to verify the
state of Pioneer-10. Incidentally, the SETI institute also saw the
signal from Arecibo in Puerto Rico. For years they have used
Pioneer-10 as a reference for their investigations.

The spacecraft is still healthy. The power is still sufficient to
support the loads with the bus voltage at about 26 volts (nominal is
28). The uplink from DSS-14 was received by the spacecraft at
-131.7 dbm. The spacecraft is extremely cold, with many of the
temperature readings at the bottom of their scales. Two commands
were sent yesterday from Goldstone and both were confirmed to have
been executed by the spacecraft. One scientific instrument is still
on, the Geiger Tube Telescope, and Dr. James Van Allen, the PI, will
be happy to hear he has some more data to look at.

Thirty years ago the first mission to explore the outer planets,
specifically the planet Jupiter, was launched from KSC. Many of the
people who designed, built and flew the spacecraft have passed on but
Pioneer-10 continues. From ARC and the Pioneer Project we send our
thanks to the many people at the DSN (Goldstone and Madrid) and JPL
who made it possible to hear the spacecraft signal again.

Dave Lozier, Pioneer Flight Director

Andrew

--------------------
"Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." - Jim Halpert. (The Office)

I'm LIZZING! - Liz Lemon (30 Rock)

Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
Harry
Stormwind City Guard
Member # 265

 - posted      Profile for Harry     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Wow! Amazing work!

Where is Pioneer 10 nowadays?

--------------------
Titan Fleet Yards | Memory Alpha

Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged
Mucus
Senior Member
Member # 24

 - posted      Profile for Mucus     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
It says 79.7 AU out, which if memory serves....one AU is the distance from the Earth to the Sun. (Someone correct me here [Wink] )
In any case, there must be one heck of a good Tim Horton's out there.

Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
Sol System
two dollar pistol
Member # 30

 - posted      Profile for Sol System     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
All, or some, of what you always wanted to know about Pioneer.

As to where it is now...uh...it's really far in...that direction. Vaguely in the direction of the constellation Taurus, I think.

Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
TSN
I'm... from Earth.
Member # 31

 - posted      Profile for TSN     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Yes, an astronomical unit (AU) is the distance from Earth to the sun. Which is about 8 light-minutes. So the thing is 637.8 light-minutes away. That's about 10.6 light-hours. Which makes a 21.3 (using pre-rounding figures) hour round trip. Which explains why they got the signal after 22 hours.
Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
Grokca
Senior Member
Member # 722

 - posted      Profile for Grokca     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Pioneer 10 is now in galactic orbit, twice as far from Earth as Pluto. It is travelling at 44,063 kilometres an hour relative to the sun and is in line to reach Aldebaran, the red star that forms the eye of the constellation Taurus. But it won't make it there for about two million years.
This is from the Toronto Star article about this. 2 million years to Aldebaran, unless it is used for target practise.

--------------------
"and none of your usual boobery."
M. Burns

Registered: Oct 2001  |  IP: Logged
TSN
I'm... from Earth.
Member # 31

 - posted      Profile for TSN     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
*looks at that speed, does some calculating, and wonders what a Klingon BoP was doing only four-and-a-quarter light-days from Earth*
Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
Dat
Huh?
Member # 302

 - posted      Profile for Dat     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
* slaps Tim *

Don't you know everything...well most of everything from STV is out of whack. I mean can you explain how the Enterprise got to near the center of the Galaxy in only a few hours or why she has 78 decks going from bottom up, or why some of the deck numbers were repeated, or why she has triangular turboshafts with rounds lift cars, or why many of her doors look like they came from the Ent-D around 80 years in her future. I really wouldn't worry about a Klingon BoP being only 4 and quarter light days from Earth. That's all part of the whacked out part of the movie.

[ March 03, 2002, 22:24: Message edited by: Dat ]

--------------------
Is it Friday yet?

Registered: Feb 2000  |  IP: Logged
Mark Nguyen
I'm a daddy now!
Member # 469

 - posted      Profile for Mark Nguyen     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Well, it *is* only 4 days to Qo'noS at warp 4.5...

[duck]

Mark

--------------------
"This is my timey-wimey detector. Goes ding when there's stuff." - Doctor Who
The 404s - Improv Comedy | Mark's Starship Bridge Designs | Anime Alberta

Registered: Dec 2000  |  IP: Logged
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343

 - posted      Profile for Shik     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
That's made all the more funnier by your new statline.

--------------------
"The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"

Registered: Jun 2000  |  IP: Logged
TSN
I'm... from Earth.
Member # 31

 - posted      Profile for TSN     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Dat: Yes, well... No shit.
Registered: Mar 1999  |  IP: Logged
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


© 1999-2024 Charles Capps

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3