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Pioneer 10 Still Running After 30 years

Posted by michael on from the overdue-for-tuneup-and-brake-job dept.

evilempireinc writes "According to this article in Scientific American, Pioneer 10 is still functioning 30 years after it was launched in 1972, and is still sending back scientific data. The article mentions that two other old space craft, Voyager, and IMP-8 are still functioning after over 20 years as well due to overbuilt construction and redundant systems. Can't help but wonder if the present generation of "faster, better, cheaper" probes will ever live this long though."

11 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. VGER by perreira · · Score: 5, Funny

    As we all know, Voyager will still work in 200 years, when Kirk has to rescue Earth from it returning... ;)

  2. they don't make them like they used to by SystematicPsycho · · Score: 4, Funny

    just wanted to say it, probably doesn't apply here though

    --
    Analytic & algebraic topology of locally Euclidean meterization of infinitely differentiable Riemmanian manifold
  3. The secret of its success .. by Derwen · · Score: 5, Funny

    is self delusion

    Pioneer 10 is still functioning 30 years after it was launched in 1972,
    Due to Y2K issues it thinks it's still 1972, so it's way too young to burn out and die ;-)

    --
    http://fsfeurope.org/
  4. How special is that.. by XaXXon · · Score: 3, Funny

    I mean.. of how much use is a 30 year old probe? I think I'd probably want to send out cheaper probes more frequently than still be getting data from an old one. I know it takes a while to get stuff out that far and all, but doesn't newer mean better?

    1. Re:How special is that.. by ReidMaynard · · Score: 4, Funny
      I mean.. of how much use is a 30 year old probe?

      My probe is 44 years old and works just fine, thank you.

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      -- www.globaltics.net

      Political discussion for a new world

  5. Big Deal by jvl001 · · Score: 5, Funny
    I'm still running after I was launched in 1972.

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    /. is to journalism as graffiti is to a bathroom wall
  6. Pioneer 10 Still Running After 30 years by Seehund · · Score: 3, Funny

    Poor Pioneer 10. I don't know what it did 30 years ago, but I'm sure the period for prosecution must have expired by now. Let bygones be bygones and stop chasing the poor thing.

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    Help savingAmigaOS and a free PowerPC market
  7. Pioneer 10, now 30 years old and driving a Porsche by Reverend+Beaker · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pioneer 10 has also recently divorced its wife, a Tandy TRS-80, and has been seen tooling around town with a perky young AMD. Scientists have theorized that Pioneer 10 may soon take up skydiving in a vain effort to prove that it is still young. "We hope that Pioneer 10 will just admit to its age and settle down, possibly move to florida and play some golf" said Dr. James Tooly of NASA, "It's just disgraceful..."

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    This is not the sig you're looking for
  8. Not suprised by af_robot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pioneer 10 is still functioning 30 years after it was launched in 1972, and is still sending back scientific data. The article mentions that two other old space craft, Voyager, and IMP-8 are still functioning after over 20 years...

    Even numbered releases always were the stable ones.

  9. Re:Of course they won't by mosch · · Score: 5, Funny

    You not only know how much you paid for a watch you bought in 1986, but you also wear a digital watch all the time? Go take a shower, go out and get laid. It's clear that your wife isn't doing it right.

  10. Re:Milk Cartons? by AJWM · · Score: 5, Funny

    And underneath the picture, the words:
    "Missing. Have you seen this spacecraft?"

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    -- Alastair