First spacecraft designed to travel on a trajectory out of the Solar System

NASA's Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft designed to travel on a trajectory out of the Solar System. This mission marked a pivotal advancement in space exploration, as it was also the first spacecraft to utilize all-nuclear electrical power through SNAP-19 radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The use of nuclear power allowed Pioneer 10 to operate in the harsh environment of space, providing a reliable energy source for its instruments and communication systems. The spacecraft was launched with the primary objective of studying Jupiter, but its trajectory was set to take it beyond the planets of our Solar System, making it a trailblazer in interstellar exploration. The impact of Pioneer 10's mission extended beyond its immediate scientific goals. It provided invaluable data about the asteroid belt, Jupiter's atmosphere, and its moons, significantly enhancing our understanding of the outer planets. The spacecraft's successful journey paved the way for subsequent missions to the outer Solar System and beyond, inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers. Pioneer 10's achievements demonstrated the feasibility of long-duration space missions and the potential for human-made objects to leave the Solar System, marking a new era in our quest to explore the cosmos.