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| Launched in 1972, Pioneer 10 lived up to its name by being the first craft to cross the asteroid belt and flying by Jupiter. Before Pioneer 10, it was unknown if a spacecraft would survive a trip between Mars and Jupiter. Then in 1974 it flew by Jupiter years before the more famous Voyager 1. It proved the radiation belts around Jupiter were strong and any spacecraft would need protection if it were to work in that area. Pioneer 10 is now almost 7.5 billion miles from earth and is one of 4 spacecraft that are leaving the solar system. |