NASA Contacts Pioneer 10 Spacecraft

AP ^ | 3 Mar 02 | ERICA WERNER

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Bush2000]

Imagine if, for example, an alien civilization discovers this probe in a million years or so. They're probably going to think, "Who, in [deity's name] made this piece of crap?"

[RadioAstronomer]

Sigh! I missed you too.

[vikingchick]

Amazing! bttt

[stumpy]

Bear in mind, the first one (by the russians, sputnik) was about the size of a basketball. They are sending up some really big ones now.

[Joe Hadenuf]

In a vacuum, yes. The velocity changes with frequency (very small) in other mediums such as an atmosphere or water.

Interesting, I was under the false impression that radio waves traveled just under light speed.

[blam]

"Damn! sorry I missed you in my ping."

No problem. Read about this earlier today in my local newspaper.

[RadioAstronomer]

Imagine if, for example, an alien civilization discovers this probe in a million years or so. They're probably going to think, "Who, in [deity's name] made this piece of crap?"

This I don't believe. You would be amazed at what can be gleaned about our technology from how finely crafted that vehicle really is. :)

[RadioAstronomer]

Bear in mind, the first one (by the russians, sputnik) was about the size of a basketball. They are sending up some really big ones now.

Big is right. However, a small satellite with a tuned center of mass can be extremely agile.

[The Cajun]

Best guess as to how many years before a manned craft will outdistance pioneer 10.

[strela]

You would be amazed at what can be gleaned about our technology from how finely crafted that vehicle really is.

Many of our fine posters would say the same thing if a sample of Anna Kournikova's DNA had been included in the vehicle ...

[StriperSniper]

and is in line to reach Aldebaran, the red star that forms the eye of the constellation Taurus. But it won't get there for about 2 million years.

Now the big question, will Aldebaran (as we now know it) still be there?

[RadioAstronomer]

Best guess as to how many years before a manned craft will outdistance pioneer 10.

Possibly never. We may be "stuck" here in our own solar system. (Those pesky general relativity equations :)). I just want to see us back on the moon.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Best guess as to how many years before a manned craft will outdistance pioneer 10.

Many moons before that happens. I would guess in the hundreds of years.

[Boomer Geezer]

Great news on Pioneer 10!

Not to change the subject, but anybody watching NASA TV? They guys are getting ready to go EVA to replace the first panel on Hubble. I watched it last night as Hubble was captured and put in the bay for tonight's work.

Last night I was so addicted to it that I finally went to sleep about 4AM (Phoenix time). And now we have the Pioneer 10 info! Wow! what a space day, eh? :)

And now back to the thread ... sorry for the little segue, but it seemed like the right place to mention it without starting a new thread.

[StriperSniper]

if a sample of Anna Kournikova's DNA had been included in the

I would prefer a sample of MY DNA was.......nevermind.

[RadioAstronomer]

Many of our fine posters would say the same thing if a sample of Anna Kournikova's DNA had been included in the vehicle ...

I always wondered if my DNA made it to venus. I cut myself on the Magellan Spacecraft (certainly not on purpose) on one of the communication hard lines. Cleaned of course but did a bit of DNA stay with the vehicle. :)

[strela]

LOL. Get in line, buddy ...

[RadioAstronomer]

Not to change the subject, but anybody watching NASA TV? They guys are getting ready to go EVA to replace the first panel on Hubble

Way cool! :) I have friends who were on the Hubble flight team. One of them works with me now on my satellite.

[strela]

I cut myself on the Magellan Spacecraft (certainly not on purpose) on one of the communication hard lines.

Didn't a technician do pretty much the same thing on Surveyor 3 (leave some bacteria on it). I seem to recall that one of the pieces of Surveyor brought back from the Moon by Conrad and Bean show evidence of human-borne bacteria?