mar 11, 1960 - Pioneer 5

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The Pioneer 5 launched on a direct solar orbit trajectory, Pioneer 5 successfully reached a heliocentric orbit between Earth and Venus to demonstrate deep space technologies and to provide the first map of the interplanetary magnetic field. NASA's Pioneer 5 provided the first map of the interplanetary magnetic field. This mission was part of the famous Pioneer program which included far-ranging Pioneers 10 and 11 that charted the space between the planets. Pioneer 5 was the first deep space mission to carry Telebit, a digital telemetry system with data rates of 1 to 64 bits per second. Telebit was tested in Earth orbit by Explorer 6. The spacecraft confirmed scientists’ theories of a weak interplanetary magnetic field and It was originally intended to go to Venus. It successfully completed its mission and stopped transmitting data back to Earth by April of that year. In June, Pioneer 5 was able to establish communications with Earth at a then-record 22.5 million miles away, but contact with the craft was lost after that point.

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In-Depth | Pioneer 5

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