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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. By now, power output will have fallen short of the minimum needed to operate the spacecraft, and the next time NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) searches for Pioneer 11's signal, there will only be silence. Pioneer 11 will finally be dead.

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

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