Pioneer 6, 7, 8, 9, E

Part of the Pioneer program

Pioneers 6, 7, 8, and 9 were created to make the first detailed, comprehensive measurements of the solar wind, solar magnetic field and cosmic rays. Designed to measure large scale magnetic phenomena and particles and fields in interplanetary space, data from the vehicles has been used to better understand stellar processes as well as the structure and flow of the solar wind. The vehicles also acted as the world's first space-based solar weather network, providing practical data on solar storms which impact communications and power on Earth. A fifth spacecraft, Pioneer E, was lost when it failed to orbit due to a launch vehicle failure. The Pioneer 6-9 program has been touted as one of the least expensive of all NASA spacecraft programs in terms of scientific results per dollar spent. As of 1996, Pioneer 6 was NASA's oldest operational satellite, having been in orbit over 30 years.

Spacecraft
Spin stabilized at ~60 rpm. Body mounted solar cells provide 79 watts.

Payload
6 instruments total including Plasma Analyzer, Cosmic Ray Detector.

Country of Origin	United States
Customer/User	NASA, Ames Research Center
Manufacturer(s)	TRW
Size	0.94 m diameter x 0.81 m tall, 1.8 m long magnetometer boom
Orbit	Solar orbits, between 0.8 and 1.2 AU
Design Life	6 months

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
Pioneer 6	1965-105A	12/16/65	ESMC	Delta E	Solar	63
Measured solar wind, Sun's magnetic field
Pioneer 7	1966-075A	8/17/66	ESMC	Delta E	Solar	63
Monitored solar wind, cosmic rays
Pioneer 8	1967-123A	12/13/67	ESMC	Delta E	Solar	63
Solar radiation data
Pioneer 9	1968-100A	11/8/68	ESMC	Delta E	Solar	63
Solar radiation data
Pioneer E	none	8/27/69	ESMC	Delta L	FTO	67
1st stage hydraulics failure; destroyed by range safety