Also called:
Pioneer/Saturn
Date of launch (location):
April 5, 1973 (ETR)
Launch vehicle:
Atlas-Centaur
Weight (kg):
270
Shape:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Dimensions (in):
Same as Pioneer 10.
Power source:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Responsible NASA center:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Prime contractor:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Project manager:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Project scientist:
Same as Pioneer 10.
Objectives:
Same as Pioneer 10; plus travel to
Saturn, making detailed observations of that planet and its
rings.
Experiments (responsible
institution):
.
Magnetometer (JPL)
Fluxgate magnetometer (GSFC)
Plasma analyzer (ARC)
Charged particle composition
instrument (University of Chicago)
Cosmic ray telescope (GSFQ
Geiger tube telescopes (University of
Iowa)
Trapped radiation detector
(University of California, San Diego)
Asteroid/meteoroid detector (General
Electric Co.)
Meteoroid detector (LRQ
Celestial mechanics (JPL)
Ultraviolet photometer (University of
Southern California)
Imaging photopolarimeter (University
of Arizona)
Occultation (JPL)
Results:
Highly successful; reached Jupiter
(closest approach 43 000 km) December 2, 1974, and Saturn
(closest approach 21 400 km) September 1, 1979; major new
discoveries regarding Saturn include its 11th moon, magnetic
field, and 2 new rings.
Source: NASA, "Pioneer G Press Kit," Apr. 1, 1973.