# Pioneer 5

> American space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q40518](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40518)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_5)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pioneer-5

## Summary
Pioneer 5 is an American space probe and an artificial satellite of the Sun, launched in 1960 as part of the Pioneer program. Its primary mission was to explore further into outer space, carrying instruments to monitor the space environment. The probe operated for 107 days, providing early data from a heliocentric orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** American space probe, artificial satellite of the Sun, geomagnetic satellite.
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Manufacturer:** TRW Inc.
- **Launch Date:** March 11, 1960, at 13:00:07 UTC.
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor Able IV.
- **Mass:** 43 kilograms (launch weight).
- **Dimensions:** 0.66 meters in diameter (spacecraft body), 1.44 meters in diameter (with spacecraft solar array).
- **Instruments:** Spectrometer, Geiger counter, and magnetometer.
- **Power Source:** Four spacecraft solar arrays.
- **Mission Duration:** 107 days, with loss of signal occurring on June 26, 1960.
- **Orbit:** Heliocentric orbit with a periapsis of 0.7061 AU and an apoapsis of 0.9931 AU, and an orbital period of 311.6 days.
- **Program:** Part of the Pioneer program.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1960-001A, NSSDCA ID 1960-001A, Harvard Designation 1960 Alpha 1.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Pioneer 5?
A: Pioneer 5 is an American space probe and an artificial satellite of the Sun. It was launched in 1960 as part of the Pioneer program to explore further into outer space.

### Q: When was Pioneer 5 launched and by whom?
A: Pioneer 5 was launched on March 11, 1960, at 13:00:07 UTC by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A using a Thor Able IV launch vehicle.

### Q: What scientific instruments did Pioneer 5 carry?
A: Pioneer 5 carried a spectrometer, a Geiger counter, and a magnetometer. These instruments were designed to collect data on the space environment.

### Q: How long did Pioneer 5 operate?
A: Pioneer 5 operated for 107 days after its launch. Contact with the probe was lost on June 26, 1960.

### Q: What was Pioneer 5's orbit?
A: Pioneer 5 was placed into a heliocentric orbit, meaning it orbited the Sun. Its orbit had a periapsis of 0.7061 astronomical units and an apoapsis of 0.9931 astronomical units, with an orbital period of 311.6 days.

## Why It Matters
Pioneer 5 holds significance as an early American space probe dedicated to exploring interplanetary space. As an artificial satellite of the Sun, it ventured beyond Earth's immediate vicinity, providing crucial data from a heliocentric orbit. Its mission contributed to the nascent field of space exploration by testing technologies and gathering scientific measurements using its spectrometer, Geiger counter, and magnetometer. The data collected on Earth's magnetosphere and related regions, as well as the broader space environment, helped advance humanity's understanding of the solar system. As part of the Pioneer program, it laid foundational groundwork for subsequent deep-space missions, demonstrating capabilities for long-duration operations and distant communication, thereby playing a vital role in the early development of space science and engineering.

## Notable For
- Being an early American space probe specifically designed for deep space exploration and a heliocentric orbit.
- Operating as an artificial satellite of the Sun, providing data from interplanetary space.
- Carrying a suite of scientific instruments, including a spectrometer, Geiger counter, and magnetometer, for early space environment studies.
- Achieving a mission duration of 107 days, a notable operational lifespan for a probe of its era.
- Its role as part of the pioneering Pioneer program, contributing to the foundational efforts of U.S. space exploration.

## Body

### Overview
Pioneer 5 is an American space probe, also classified as an artificial satellite of the Sun and a geomagnetic satellite. It was an integral part of the Pioneer program. The probe is also known by aliases such as Pioneer P-2, Able 4, and Paddle-Wheel Satellite.

### Launch and Operations
Pioneer 5 was launched on March 11, 1960, at 13:00:07 UTC. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17A, utilizing a Thor Able IV launch vehicle. The mission was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the probe was manufactured by TRW Inc. The mission lasted for 107 days, with the loss of signal occurring on June 26, 1960.

### Specifications
The probe had a launch weight of 43 kilograms. Its main body measured 0.66 meters in diameter, expanding to 1.44 meters in diameter when its spacecraft solar arrays were deployed. Power for the probe was supplied by four spacecraft solar arrays.

### Scientific Instruments
Pioneer 5 was equipped with several scientific instruments to study the space environment:
- Spectrometer
- Geiger counter
- Magnetometer

### Orbital Characteristics
Pioneer 5 was placed into a heliocentric orbit, making the Sun its parent astronomical body. Key orbital parameters include:
- Periapsis: 0.7061 astronomical units (AU)
- Apoapsis: 0.9931 astronomical units (AU)
- Orbital period: 311.6 days
- Orbital inclination: 3.35 degrees
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.1689

### Identifiers
The probe is associated with several identifiers:
- SCN: 00027
- COSPAR ID: 1960-001A
- NSSDCA ID: 1960-001A
- Harvard Designation: 1960 Alpha 1
- Freebase ID: /m/021353

### Program Context
Pioneer 5 followed Pioneer P-3 in the sequence of missions and was followed by Pioneer P-30. Both Pioneer P-3 and Pioneer P-30 were U.S. lunar orbiters that experienced launch failures.

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  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Pioneer-5.jpg"
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pioneer-5.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1960-001A)
5. [Pioneer  5](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1960-001A)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-001A)