Pioneer 6. Image Credit: NASA
Pioneer 6 was launched into solar orbit approximately 0.8 AU form the Sun on December 16, 1965. It was one of four Pioneer probes placed in a solar orbit.
Pioneer 6′s main body measures 94 cm in diameter by 88.9 cm high. The horizontal booms are 208.3 cm long. The antenna mast is 152.4 cm long. The satellite weighs approximately 68 kg. It is spin-stabilized at approximately 60 rpm, with the spin axis perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. The four spacecraft in this group helped demonstrate the practicality of spinning a spacecraft to stabilize it.
Pioneers 6 was designed to make the first detailed, comprehensive measurements of the solar wind, solar magnetic field, and cosmic rays. It measured large scale magnetic phenomena, particles, and fields. Data from the spacecraft has been used to better understand the structure and flow of the solar wind. Experiments conducted by the equipment onboard studied cations and electrons in the solar wind, the density of electrons in interplanetary space, solar and galactic cosmic rays, as well as the interplanetary magnetic field.
The spacecraft was designed to operate for at least 6 months, but proved to be reliable beyond that. Pioneer 6 is still considered to be viable and is the oldest operating spacecraft. In July, 1996 the MIT and ARC Plasma Analyzers as well as the cosmic ray detector were turned on and still worked after almost 32 years. To mark its 35th year in orbit, one last contact was successfully made on December 8, 2000.
We have written many articles about Pioneer missions for Universe Today. Here’s an article about Pioneer 11, and here’s an article about Pioneer 9.
If you’d like more info on Pioneer 6, check out these articles:
Pioneer 6, 7, 8 and 9
Pioneer 6 spacecraft details
We’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast all about the Sun. Listen here, Episode 30: The Sun, Spots and All.
Source: NASA
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