Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Probes of the Planets/Space Achievements" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. Space Achievements 18c Probes of the Planets stamp issued May 21, 1981. Pioneer 10 and 11 rendezvoused with the stars in 1973 and 1974. After a 620-million-mile flight, the Pioneers were within a celestial eyelash of Jupiter. Interest in the possibility of life on this planet has heightened due to space probes that were begun by the Pioneer spacecraft. Pioneer 10 could not see evidence of life from its closest distance of eighty-two thousand miles above the cloud tops, nor was it designed to detect life. Neither could Pioneer 11, though it passed within twenty-seven thousand miles. But as scientists analyze the data transmitted by these spacecraft about atmosphere, temperatures, gravity, radiation and magnetic fields, they are putting together new models of Jupiter that have implications about the possibilities of life. Pioneer 10 is now in headlong flight toward the red star Aldebaran, which it should reach in 1,700,000 years. In 1987 it will cross the orbit of Pluto. Years later it will flash by the last of the comets, becoming the first known man-made object to leave the solar system. Pioneer 11, meanwhile, has conducted the first spacecraft observations of Saturn. The Pioneers have only begun the exploration of Jupiter and the outer solar system. More sophisticated observations are being produced from the Mariner Jupiter-Saturn missions. No man knows what further searches will reveal. New light is yet to be shed on these mysteries of the universe. Image Size: 18 x 18 in. Overall Size: 22 x 22 in. Unframed. (B06942) See More