Jul 31 1979
From The Space Library
KSC reported that NASA's third spectacular of the year would come in August-September when Pioneer 11 passed within 13,300 miles of Saturn's cloudtops. Launched April 5, 1973, the craft would give scientists a first close look at the giant planet with rings and 10 moons. Data from Pioneer 11 would help them plan Saturn flybys in 1980-81 of Voyagers 1 and 2, now headed there after passing Jupiter in March and July this year. The Saturn encounter would be the second planetfall for Pioneer 11, which had used Jupiter's gravity in 1974 to put it on a trajectory toward Saturn. (KSC Release 142-79)
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