Study finds heat is source of 'Pioneer anomaly'
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 04:00
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org) -- The unexpected slowing of NASAs Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft the so-called Pioneer Anomaly turns out to be due to the slight, but detectable effect of heat pushing back on the spacecraft, according to a recent paper. The heat emanates from electrical current flowing through instruments and the thermoelectric power supply. The results were published on June 12 in the journal Physical Review Letters.