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Lasers, Clocks and Drag-Free Control pp 577–604Cite as

Exploring the Pioneer Anomaly: Concept Considerations for a Deep-Space Gravity Probe Based on Laser-Controlled Free-Flying Reference Masses

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Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 349))

The analysis of their radiometric tracking data has consistently indicated a small, anomalous, Doppler frequency drift at heliocentric distances of 20–70AU. The drift is a blueshift, uniformly changing with a rate of ~(5.99 ± 0.01) × 10−9 Hz s−1, which can be interpreted as a constant acceleration of each spacecraft of aPioneer = (8.74 ± 1.33) × 10−10 ms−2 toward the Sun. This signal has become known as the Pioneer anomaly. The inability to explain the anomalous behavior of the Pioneer spacecraft with conventional physics and the search for “new physics” motivated by the search for quantum gravity or local effects of dark matter and/or dark energy emphasizes the need for a new experiment to explore the detected signal. Only a dedicated experiment could ultimately determine the nature of the found signal. We discuss the Pioneer anomaly and present the next steps toward an understanding of its origin. We specifically focus on the development of a mission to explore the Pioneer Anomaly in a dedicated experiment conducted in deep space.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EADS Astrium GmbH, 88039, Friedrichshafen, Germany

    Ulrich Johann

  2. Am Fallturm, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Claus Lammerzahl & Hansjorg Dittus

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  1. Ulrich Johann
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  2. Claus Lammerzahl
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Hansjorg Dittus  & Claus Lammerzahl  & 

  2. California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, 91109, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Slava G. Turyshev

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Johann, U., Lammerzahl, C., Dittus, H. (2008). Exploring the Pioneer Anomaly: Concept Considerations for a Deep-Space Gravity Probe Based on Laser-Controlled Free-Flying Reference Masses. In: Dittus, H., Lammerzahl, C., Turyshev, S.G. (eds) Lasers, Clocks and Drag-Free Control. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 349. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34377-6_26

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