The Search for a Standard Explanation of the Pioneer Anomaly

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  • 21 January 2002
Abstract
We have reported an anomalous acceleration of Pioneer 10 and 11 directed towards the Sun of a_P = (8.74 \pm 1.33) \times 10^{-8} cm/s^2 [1,2]. Scheffer [3] hypothesizes that the Pioneer anomaly can be accounted for by i) non-isotropic thermal radiation through the closed louvers and that ii) this radiation has been ``essentially constant throughout the mission.'' However, the actual physical and operational properties of the craft, supported by design and telemetry data, show that this hypothesis does not work. He then arbitrarily modifies the solar radiation dynamics to save his argument [3]. But if this modification were true, the Pioneer mission would have failed.

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