Today in the history of astronomy, Pioneer 10 cruises into interstellar space.
The forerunner of interstellar missions like Voyager 1 and 2 and New Horizons, Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross into interstellar space. Credit: NASA
Pioneer 10 holds the titles for many “firsts”: It was NASA’s first mission to the outer planets, the first spacecraft to fly beyond Mars, the first to traverse the asteroid belt, and the first to fly past Jupiter. It was also the first spacecraft placed on a trajectory to escape the solar system into interstellar space. On June 13, 1983, Pioneer 10 crossed the orbit of Neptune, confirming its path out of the solar system and paving the way for Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, as well as New Horizons. Designed for a 21-month mission, Pioneer 10 far exceeded expectations, returning data for over 30 years. Its last signal was received Jan. 23, 2003.
