Pioneer enters space sabatical

Well done, Pioneer, we will miss you.

February 27, 2003

Pioneer lost in space with two million years to kill
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent - London Times

THE first manmade object to leave the Solar System floated off into deep space yesterday with two million years to kill before its next chance of finding anything to talk to. Pioneer 10 has lost contact with mission control 31 years after setting out on its epic voyage of discovery.

Although originally designed to operate for just 21 months, Nasa knew that it would be the first insterstellar emissary, and included a gold plaque showing what human beings look like, the location of Earth and our Solar System. As optimism in space travel faded on its home planet, Pioneer 10 continued its solitary journey out into deep space.

The craft, shaped liked a large umbrella and no taller than a man, was the first to photograph Mars and Jupiter at close quarters and to venture through the asteroid belt. Now 7.6 billion miles away from Earth, it has almost certainly sent its last message to mankind, Nasa said yesterday.

The probe will, however, continue to career through the freezing darkness, bound for the red star Aldebaran, which is 68 light years away and forms the eye of the constellation Taurus. It will arrive in two million years.

Larry Lasher, the probe's project manager, said: "It was a workhorse that far exceeded its warranty, and I guess you could say we got our money's worth." There are no plans to try to regain contact.