Pioneer 6 (Pioneer A), a NASA heliocentric solar-wind and interplanetary-space probe. Thor Delta E from Cape Canaveral LC-17A launched it on 16 December 1965 into solar orbit; it became one of the longest-lived spacecraft, still contactable decades later.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- Helio-N/A
- Heliocentric orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 63 kg
- Flight
- 2nd
- of 6 Thor Delta E flights
- Date and time
- 16 December 1965, 07:31 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor Delta E
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
- Payload
- Astrophysics
- International designator
- 1965-105
- Launches in 1965
- 116th of 124
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas