NASA has re-established contact with the space probe Pioneer 10, currently drifting beyond the Solar System, 11.9 billion kilometres from Earth. The probe completed its formal scientific mission to study interplanetary radiation in 1997, and fell silent last year. But it appears to be going strong. Last week it cheered engineers by replying to a message sent by NASA鈥橲 Deep Space Network antenna. 鈥淧ioneer 10 has been discounted in the past, but somehow it always manages to fall on its feet,鈥 says project manager Larry Lasher at NASA鈥檚 Ames Research Center.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles