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Pioneer 11 reached Saturn on 1 September 1979, flying within 21,000 kilometers of Saturn and taking the first close-up pictures of the planet. Onboard instruments located two previously undiscovered moons (Epimetheus and Janus) and an additional ring, charted Saturn's magnetosphere and magnetic field and found its planet-size moon, Titan, to be too cold for life. Hurtling underneath the ring plane, Pioneer 11 sent back pictures of Saturn's rings. Strangely, the rings, which normally seem bright when observed from Earth, appeared dark in the Pioneer pictures, and the dark gaps in the rings seen from Earth appeared as bright rings.

Pioneer 11 reached Saturn on 1 September 1979, flying within 21,000 kilometers of Saturn and taking the first close-up pictures of the planet. Onboard instruments located two previously undiscovered moons (Epimetheus and Janus) and an additional ring, charted Saturn's magnetosphere and magnetic field and found its planet-size moon, Titan, to be too cold for life. Hurtling underneath the ring plane, Pioneer 11 sent back pictures of Saturn's rings. Strangely, the rings, which normally seem bright when observed from Earth, appeared dark in the Pioneer pictures, and the dark gaps in the rings seen from Earth appeared as bright rings.

Following its encounter with Saturn, Pioneer 11 explored the outer regions of our Solar System, studying the [[Solar Wind]] and cosmic rays entering our portion of the [[Milky Way]]. In September 1995, Pioneer 11 was at a distance of 6.5 billion kilometers from Earth. At that distance, it takes over 6 hours for a radio signal (traveling at the speed of light) to reach Earth.

Following its encounter with Saturn, Pioneer 11 explored the outer regions of our Solar System, studying the [[Solar wind]] and cosmic rays entering our portion of the [[Milky Way]]. In September 1995, Pioneer 11 was at a distance of 6.5 billion kilometers from Earth. At that distance, it takes over 6 hours for a radio signal (traveling at the speed of light) to reach Earth.

In September 1995, the available power fell below that needed for continued scientific observations, and the spacecraft was officially retired.

In September 1995, the available power fell below that needed for continued scientific observations, and the spacecraft was officially retired.