... last telemetry data transmission by Pioneer 10 occurred on April 27, 2002 (1). Although no further contact is expected, Pioneer 10 is now on a path heading towards the red star Aldebaran, which forms the eye of the constellation Taurus. Aldebaran is approximately 68 light years away and it will take Pioneer over 2 million years to arrive at this destination (4). Pioneer 10 is now ... act as a backup in the event of spacecraft failure (2). Pioneer 11 reached a point 26,725 miles above Jupiter's cloud tops (3). During this flyby the spacecraft acquired images of the Great Red Spot. It als...

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