The Asteroid-Meteoroid Detector, an electro-optical instrument that detects and measures particles in space by sensing the sunlight reflected from them, is part of the payload of both the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft. The Pioneer 11 instrument is essentially identical to that on Pioneer 10, with some minor modifications. Reduction of the Pioneer 11 data was complicated by the failure of one of the four sensor channels at about 1.1 AU from the sun. Detailed analysis yielded 51 events between 1.0 and 3.5 AU, which were used to determine the particle concentration distribution in that region of space. Weighted curve-fitting of the results shows agreement with the concentrations derived from Pioneer 10 to within about a factor of two. As with the Pioneer 10 results, the exponent of the size dependency varies from about -1.7 for 100-micron radius particles to about -3.2 for 10-cm bodies. The instrument, its operation, and the method of data analysis are reviewed.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Results of the asteroid-meteoroid particle experiment on Pioneer 11


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    COSPAR, Plenary Meeting ; 1976 ; Philadelphia, PA


    Publication date :

    1976-06-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    On the possible origin of meteoroid generating asteroid orbits

    Kazantsev, A. M. / Sherbaum, L. M. | NTRS | 1987


    Apollo window meteoroid experiment

    Cour-Palais, B. G. | NTRS | 1973


    Apollo window meteoroid experiment

    Cour-Palais, B. G. / Flaherty, R. E. / Brown, M. L. | NTRS | 1972


    Apollo window meteoroid experiment

    Cour-Palais, B. G. / Brown, M. L. / Mckay, D. S. | NTRS | 1972