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| | ==Discovery== | | ==Discovery== |
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| − | Every spacecraft sent to the outer solar system is intended to follow a specific course. The theory of [[General relativity|general relativity]] is used to predict these courses. The spacecrafts are then tracked during flight. By the use of [[Doppler effect|Doppler radar]], the courses for both the Pioneer spacecraft have showed a constant acceleration towards the sun of <math>8.74 \times 10^{10} \frac{m}{s^2} \ </math> which was not part of the predicted course. | + | Every spacecraft sent to the outer solar system is intended to follow a specific course. The theory of [[General relativity|general relativity]] is used to predict these courses. The spacecraft are then tracked during flight. By using [[Doppler effect|Doppler radar]], scientists have found that the courses for both the Pioneer spacecraft show a constant acceleration towards the sun of <math>8.74 \times 10^{10} \frac{m}{s^2} \ </math> which was not part of the predicted course. |
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| − | Although the Galileo and Ulysses spacecraft showed some unexpected sunward acceleration, other unpredicatble factors, such as the [[Yarkovsky effect]] and the thrust caused by radioactive material onboard, prohibit any accurate measurement of the effect on these two spacecraft. | + | Although the Galileo and Ulysses spacecraft showed some unexpected sunward acceleration, other unpredictable factors, such as the [[Yarkovsky effect]] and the thrust caused by radioactive material onboard, prohibit any accurate measurement of the effect on these two spacecraft. |
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| − | Other crafts suffer the same difficulties as the Galileo and Ulysses crafts, although more significant, preventing even a discussion of whether these crafts are effected at all. | + | Other craft suffer the same difficulties as the Galileo and Ulysses craft, although more significant, preventing even a discussion of whether these craft are affected at all. |
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| | ==Explanations== | | ==Explanations== |