Science: Big Voice from Space

The radio voice of U.S. space probe Pioneer V grew painfully feeble last week.

This was not surprising: the voice came from a five-watt transmitter 8,000,000 miles away from the earth. Britain's 250-ft. radio telescope at Jodrell Bank could still hear the signal, but the U.S. station at South Point. Hawaii had to strain its 60-ft. ear. So the time had finally come to shoot the works—by switching on the probe's 150-watt transmitter.

In a Teletype-lined room at Space Technology Laboratories in El Segundo. Calif, gathered a group of tense men. There was a chance that the big transmitter might malfunction and...