Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Pioneer 5 launched 1960


Pioneer 5, launched March 11, 1960, was to be the first probe to fly past Venus.  Technical issues delayed the launch until the window of opportunity to Venus had closed.  Instead of waiting another 3 years, NASA sent it into space, between the orbits of Earth and Venus.

It measured solar flare particles and cosmic radiation.  The last signal from Pioneer 5 was received June 26, 1960 when it was over 36 million miles away.


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