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Computer Forensics to Help Solve Pioneer Mystery

Posted by Hemos on from the deconstructing-the-past dept.

Matthew Sparkes writes "Launched 35 years ago on Friday, Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to reach the outer Solar System and return pictures of Jupiter, closely followed by Pioneer 11. However, the twin Pioneer spacecraft drifted off course (see number 8) by hundreds of thousands of kilometres during their three-decade mission, and NASA eventually lost contact with them. An international team of scientists, including many amatuer hobbyists, are re-analysing the tracking and telemetry data in the hope of discovering the reason."

3 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Pioneer anomaly by mastershake_phd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    while it is possible that the explanation will be mundane--such as thrust from gas leakage--the possibility of entirely new physics is also being considered. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_anomaly

    Strangest of all:

    Data from the Galileo and Ulysses spacecraft indicate a similar effect

    --
    Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
  2. What of Other Craft? by necro81 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We are still in contact with the Voyager probes, and they have, at this point, traveled further out of the solar system than the Pioneer probes. Has the same anomaly been spotted in their trajectories too? That would be of great importance in weeding out possible phenomena.

  3. Ive never seen the big mystery with this ... by gentimjs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It seems to be a no-brainer that the most likely cause is gravitaional force from something we didnt know was there. Some kupier belt trash, comet that passed it years ago, who knows. I'm frankly surprised that these types of navigational issues were/are not expected .....