Editing Pioneer program (section)

== Early missions ==
The earliest missions were attempts to achieve Earth's [[escape velocity]], simply to show it was feasible and to study the [[Moon]]. This included the first launch by [[NASA]] which was formed from the old [[National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics|NACA]]. These missions were carried out by the [[Air Force Ballistic Missile Division]], [[United States Army|Army]], and NASA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.losangeles.spaceforce.mil/?ver=2016-05-02-112846-557|title = Los Angeles Air Force Base > Home}}</ref>

=== Able space probes (1958–1960) ===
[[File:Pioneer I, Reconstructed Replica.jpg|thumb|Reconstructed replica of Pioneer 1]]
[[File:Pioneer IV flight spare 01.jpg |thumb|Lunar flyby spacecraft (Pioneer 3, 4)]]
[[File:Pioneer P-1 P-3 P-30 P-31.jpg|thumb|Pioneer P-1, P-3, 5, P-30, and P-31 probe]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Mission Name !! Alternate Names !! Type !! Outcome !! Date
|-
| [[Pioneer 0]] || Thor-Able 1, Pioneer || Lunar orbiter || Destroyed (Thor failure 77 seconds after launch) || August 17, 1958
|-
| [[Pioneer 1]] || Thor-Able 2, Pioneer I || Lunar orbiter, missed Moon || Third stage partial failure || October 11, 1958
|-
| [[Pioneer 2]] || Thor-Able 3, Pioneer II || Lunar orbiter, reentry || Third stage failure || November 8, 1958
|-
| [[Pioneer P-1]] || Atlas-Able 4A, Pioneer W || Launch vehicle lost ||  || September 24, 1959
|-
| [[Pioneer P-3]] || Atlas-Able 4, Atlas-Able 4B, Pioneer X || Mission failed shortly after launch ||  || November 26, 1959
|-
| [[Pioneer 5]] || Pioneer P-2, Thor-Able 4, Pioneer V ||  ||  || March 11, 1960
|-
| [[Pioneer P-30]] || Atlas-Able 5A, Pioneer Y || Lunar probe || Failed to achieve lunar orbit || September 25, 1960
|-
| [[Pioneer P-31]] || Atlas-Able 5B, Pioneer Z || Lunar probe || Lost in upper stage failure || December 15, 1960
|}

=== Juno II lunar probes (1958–1959) ===
* [[Pioneer 3]]  – Lunar flyby, missed Moon due to launcher failure December 6, 1958
* [[Pioneer 4]]  – Lunar flyby, achieved Earth [[escape velocity]], launched March 3, 1959