Pioneer 10 was assembled around a hexagonal bus with a 2.74 - meter ( 9 ft 0 in ) diameter parabolic dish high - gain antenna .
The spacecraft was spin stabilized around the axis of the antenna .
Pioneer 10 was assembled around a hexagonal bus with a 2.74 - meter ( 9 ft 0 in ) diameter parabolic dish high - gain antenna , and the spacecraft was spin stabilized around the axis of the antenna .