NSSDCA ID: 1966-075A-07
Mission Name: Pioneer 7The objectives of this investigation were to: (1) obtain primary determinations of the masses of the earth and moon and the distance between the earth and sun (AU), (2) use the tracking data from the whole series of Pioneer probes in a program designed to improve the ephemeris of the earth, and (3) investigate the possibility of a test of general relativistic mechanics using the Pioneer orbits and data. The instrumentation was a two-way S-band doppler tracking mechanism using high-gain antennas with disk-like patterns in a plane perpendicular to the spin-axis of the spacecraft. When the spin-axis was perpendicular to the ecliptic, radio signals from the antenna continuously illuminated the earth. Data were transmitted continuously and were received at ground-based deep space network stations with 26.5-m diameter antennas and with the 64-m antenna in California.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. John D. Anderson | Principal Investigator | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | john.d.anderson@jpl.nasa.gov |