Pioneer 10 requiem

arcticpenguin · 26th February 2003, 08:24 AM

http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Sp...er/PNhome.html

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html

Pioneer 10, a spacecraft launched by NASA in 1972 for a 21 month mission, is now out of contact. NASA hasn't heard from it for over a month. Pioneer 10 is now over 7.6 billion miles from Earth, that 11 and a third light hours.

Pioneer 10 carries a gold plaque engraved with a message of goodwill and a map showing the Earth's location in the solar system. The spacecraft continues to coast toward the star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus. It will take 2 million years to reach it.

To infinity and beyond!

Soapy Sam · 26th February 2003, 07:07 PM

ALIENS ABDUCT EARTH SPACECRAFT! SHOCK! HORROR!
(See page 3).

Walter Wayne · 26th February 2003, 07:43 PM

What a shame.

Last I heard they were hoping to get a geiger counter reading when it passed out of the heliosphere. Though it sounded like a pipe dream.

Walt

Fidelio · 26th February 2003, 10:48 PM

Other JREF salutations to Pioneer 10

28th February 2003, 07:09 AM

Just like kids. They don't call, they don't write...

Rob Lister · 23rd December 2004, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Plutarck
Just like kids. They don't call, they don't write...

And yet both P11 and P10 may have told us something very very important...or very mundane...

They've told us something but can we figure out what?

snip:

Quote:

It was in 1980 that John Anderson first wondered if something funny was going on with gravity.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory physicist was looking over data from two Pioneer spacecraft that had been speeding through the solar system for nearly a decade.

Only something was off base. The craft weren't where they were supposed to be.

Rather than traveling at a constant velocity of more than 25,000 mph toward the edge of the solar system, Pioneers 10 and 11 were inexplicably slowing down. Even factoring in the gravitational pull of the sun and its other planets couldn't explain what he was seeing.

How could that be?

Source:
http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-pioneer21dec21.story

A well written article.

Skeptical Greg · 23rd December 2004, 06:01 AM

I still think giving everyone in the universe directions on how to get here, is going to bite us in the butt some day..

garys_2k · 23rd December 2004, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob Lister
And yet both P11 and P10 may have told us something very very important...or very mundane...

They've told us something but can we figure out what?

Source:
http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-pioneer21dec21.story

A well written article.

My favorite explanation for that anamoly is braking caused by photons (IR radiation) emitted from their nuclear decay generators pushing them back, against the direction of travel.

B.S · 23rd December 2004, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diogenes
I still think giving everyone in the universe directions on how to get here, is going to bite us in the butt some day..

Maybe, but I think any creatures smart enough to be able to travel the distances nescessary to get here could probably find our location by simply retracing the path of the probe.

Skeptical Greg · 25th December 2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by garys_2k
My favorite explanation for that anamoly is braking caused by photons (IR radiation) emitted from their nuclear decay generators pushing them back, against the direction of travel.

But wouldn't those be emitted in all directions?

Skeptical Greg · 25th December 2004, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by B.S
Maybe, but I think any creatures smart enough to be able to travel the distances nescessary to get here could probably find our location by simply retracing the path of the probe.

How could they do that? Won't the path be altered all sorts of ways, by every gravitational field it encounters?

B.S · 25th December 2004, 09:47 PM

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it depends on how far its traveled, how long its been out there, what it has encountered. If no major influences have affected it, it might still be possible.

26th February 2003, 08:24 AM	#1
arcticpenguin woo ban clan Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,717	Pioneer 10 requiem http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Sp...er/PNhome.html http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html Pioneer 10, a spacecraft launched by NASA in 1972 for a 21 month mission, is now out of contact. NASA hasn't heard from it for over a month. Pioneer 10 is now over 7.6 billion miles from Earth, that 11 and a third light hours. Pioneer 10 carries a gold plaque engraved with a message of goodwill and a map showing the Earth's location in the solar system. The spacecraft continues to coast toward the star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus. It will take 2 million years to reach it. To infinity and beyond!
	__________________ The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

26th February 2003, 07:07 PM	#2
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	ALIENS ABDUCT EARTH SPACECRAFT! SHOCK! HORROR! (See page 3).
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

26th February 2003, 10:48 PM	#4
Fidelio Muse Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The island of Atlanta Posts: 554	Other JREF salutations to Pioneer 10
	__________________ "...not God exactly, just someone with the skill set necessary to create an entire working universe." -Jon Stewart-The Daily Show

28th February 2003, 07:09 AM	#5
Plutarck Guest Posts: n/a	Just like kids. They don't call, they don't write...
Plutarck Guest Posts: n/a

23rd December 2004, 06:01 AM	#7
Skeptical Greg Agave Wine Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Just past 'Resume Speed' Posts: 12,873	I still think giving everyone in the universe directions on how to get here, is going to bite us in the butt some day..
	__________________ " Somewhere between Jesus dying on the cross, and a giant bunny hiding eggs,there seems to be a gap in information. " Stan - Southpark Prove your computer is not a wimp ! Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

26th February 2003, 07:43 PM	#3
Walter Wayne Wayne's Words Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 2,442	What a shame. Last I heard they were hoping to get a geiger counter reading when it passed out of the heliosphere. Though it sounded like a pipe dream. Walt

23rd December 2004, 05:39 AM	#6
Rob Lister Suspended Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 8,523	Quote: Originally posted by Plutarck Just like kids. They don't call, they don't write... And yet both P11 and P10 may have told us something very very important...or very mundane... They've told us something but can we figure out what? snip: Quote: It was in 1980 that John Anderson first wondered if something funny was going on with gravity. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory physicist was looking over data from two Pioneer spacecraft that had been speeding through the solar system for nearly a decade. Only something was off base. The craft weren't where they were supposed to be. Rather than traveling at a constant velocity of more than 25,000 mph toward the edge of the solar system, Pioneers 10 and 11 were inexplicably slowing down. Even factoring in the gravitational pull of the sun and its other planets couldn't explain what he was seeing. How could that be? Source: http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-pioneer21dec21.story A well written article.

23rd December 2004, 02:13 PM	#8
garys_2k Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 756	Quote: Originally posted by Rob Lister And yet both P11 and P10 may have told us something very very important...or very mundane... They've told us something but can we figure out what? Source: http://www.latimes.com/la-sci-pioneer21dec21.story A well written article. My favorite explanation for that anamoly is braking caused by photons (IR radiation) emitted from their nuclear decay generators pushing them back, against the direction of travel.
garys_2k Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 756	__________________ - Gary

23rd December 2004, 04:39 PM	#9
B.S Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 391	Quote: Originally posted by Diogenes I still think giving everyone in the universe directions on how to get here, is going to bite us in the butt some day.. Maybe, but I think any creatures smart enough to be able to travel the distances nescessary to get here could probably find our location by simply retracing the path of the probe.

25th December 2004, 05:03 PM	#10
Skeptical Greg Agave Wine Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Just past 'Resume Speed' Posts: 12,873	Quote: Originally posted by garys_2k My favorite explanation for that anamoly is braking caused by photons (IR radiation) emitted from their nuclear decay generators pushing them back, against the direction of travel. But wouldn't those be emitted in all directions?
	__________________ " Somewhere between Jesus dying on the cross, and a giant bunny hiding eggs,there seems to be a gap in information. " Stan - Southpark Prove your computer is not a wimp ! Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

25th December 2004, 05:06 PM	#11
Skeptical Greg Agave Wine Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Just past 'Resume Speed' Posts: 12,873	Quote: Originally posted by B.S Maybe, but I think any creatures smart enough to be able to travel the distances nescessary to get here could probably find our location by simply retracing the path of the probe. How could they do that? Won't the path be altered all sorts of ways, by every gravitational field it encounters?
	__________________ " Somewhere between Jesus dying on the cross, and a giant bunny hiding eggs,there seems to be a gap in information. " Stan - Southpark Prove your computer is not a wimp ! Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

25th December 2004, 09:47 PM	#12
B.S Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 391	Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it depends on how far its traveled, how long its been out there, what it has encountered. If no major influences have affected it, it might still be possible.