NSSDCA ID: 1968-100A-04
Mission Name: Pioneer 9This experiment was designed (1) to measure the cosmic-dust flux density in the solar system, (2) to determine the distribution of cosmic-dust concentrations in the earth's orbit, (3) to determine the gradient, flux density, and speed of particles in meteor streams, and (4) to perform an inflight control experiment on the reliability of the microphone as a cosmic-dust sensor. The experiment instrumentation was identical to that carried on Pioneer 8, consisting essentially of two thin-film-grid detectors (separated by a distance of 5 cm) that produced an electrical signal when the film was penetrated by a micrometeoroid. Each film had a sensitive area of 100 sq cm and was composed of 16 segments that provided both the direction and the time of flight needed for the meteoroid to traverse the 5-cm distance between the front-film and the rear-film sensor. The combined results of the Pioneer 8 and 9 cosmic-dust experiments lent strong support to the hypothesis that the bulk of meteoroid dust is of cometary origin.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Otto E. Berg | Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |