Pioneer V Sets New Space Record With 409,000‑Mile Radio Contact
U.S. Probe Sends Clear Signals From Deep Space; Solar Batteries Working Perfectly
NEW YORK, March 13 — The United States scored another significant advance in the exploration of space tonight when Pioneer V, the nation’s newest deep‑space probe, sent back a clear radio signal from a distance of more than 409,000 miles, the farthest successful communication ever achieved between Earth and a man‑made object.
At 8 p.m. Eastern time, a command transmitted from the Hawaii tracking station triggered the probe’s five‑watt transmitter. The aluminum‑clad, 94.8‑pound satellite responded immediately, broadcasting coded data for approximately 30 minutes. At that moment, Pioneer V was 409,060 miles from Earth—surpassing the previous record set last year by Pioneer IV, whose radio fell silent at 407,000 miles.
NASA officials hailed the contact as a major step forward in long‑range space communication and remote control of deep‑space vehicles.
Probe Operating Smoothly
Earlier reports indicated that Pioneer V was functioning “beautifully.” Its solar batteries were recharging normally, and internal temperatures were holding between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, well within the expected range. The successful operation of the solar paddles—four hinged panels that power the probe—suggested that all had deployed properly once the craft cleared the thicker layers of Earth’s atmosphere.
The probe’s transmitter was in use for roughly two hours today, and its signals were received “loud and clear” at stations around the world.
Three Tracking Stations Share Control
Pioneer V remains silent until activated by one of three ground stations: Hawaii, Goldstone Lake in California, and Jodrell Bank in England. These facilities will continue to “interrogate” the probe at scheduled intervals. Tomorrow’s plan calls for four or five contacts beginning at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
While basic engineering data—temperature, battery performance, and internal conditions—can be interpreted almost immediately, the scientific measurements Pioneer V is gathering in deep space will take longer to analyze. Tapes from the receiving stations are being forwarded to Space Technology Laboratories in California, where specialists will begin processing the information. NASA estimates that several weeks will pass before the first major batch of scientific results is ready.
More Powerful Transmitter to Come
As Pioneer V travels farther from Earth, it will require a stronger voice. The probe carries a 150‑watt transmitter, designed to operate at distances up to 50 million miles. NASA hopes to activate this larger unit in three or four weeks. Because of its heavy power demands, it will be used only in short, five‑minute intervals.
The success of tonight’s contact suggests that the United States is steadily improving its ability to communicate with spacecraft far beyond Earth’s orbit—an essential requirement for future missions to the planets.