Goals: On its way to Saturn, Pioneer 11 was to become the second spacecraft to fly by Jupiter.
Accomplishments: Pioneer 11 flew three times closer to Jupiter than Pioneer 10, but was exposed to less radiation because of its high speed. The spacecraft provided the first look at Jupiter's polar regions. The spacecraft also found Jupiter's vast magnetosphere changes as it is buffeted by the solar wind.
The dormant spacecraft is now headed out of our solar system in the general direction of Sagittarius, toward the center of the galaxy. Both Pioneers 10 and 11 carry a plaque with a message for any intelligent beings that might find them.
Both Pioneer 10 and 11 carry a plaque describing the spacecraft, human beings and the location of our solar system.
