U.S. spacecraft declared ‘dead’
NZPA-Reuter Mountain View The Pioneer 9 spacecraft, after orbiting the sun for nearly two decades, has been officially declared “dead” by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The space agency launched the 67kg craft on November 8, 1968, and had expected it to send data back to earth for only six months. It continued emitting signals until May 18, 1983. Engineers at N.A.S.A.’s Ames Research Centre tried repeatedly without success since then to revive it.
“We’re sorry to lose Pioneer 9, but it had its day in the sun,” said an engineer, Robert Jackson. The spacecraft was credited with adding to knowledge about the solar wind and to efforts at predicting solar storms.
Before it was declared “dead,” the craft had circled the sun 22 times and travelled 17.7 billion kilometres. The scientists said it might have ceased functioning because of an electrical short-circuit caused by a worn part. There was a slim chance it had been struck by a meteor.
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Press, 9 March 1987, Page 2
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165U.S. spacecraft declared ‘dead’ Press, 9 March 1987, Page 2
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