Pioneer 10, launched #OTD in 1972, was designed for a 21-month flyby mission to Jupiter, but lasted for more than 30 years, racking up firsts along the way! By this day 50 years ago, it had passed the asteroid belt unscathed and was on its way to Jupiter. https://go.nasa.gov/3IH1j26 #NASAhistory
Pioneer 10 began its unprecedented multi-year journey from Earth on March 2, 1972. Managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC) in California’s Silicon Valley, it was the first spacecraft designed to travel beyond the orbit of Mars.
