What spacecraft became the first man-made object to escape the solar system in 1986 by crossing the orbit of Pluto?

The spacecraft that became the first man-made object to escape the solar system by crossing the orbit of Pluto is Pioneer 10. Launched by NASA in 1972, it was designed to explore the outer planets, and in 1973 it successfully completed a flyby of Jupiter, providing valuable data about the giant planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and moons.

Pioneer 10 continued its journey beyond the planets, and by 1986, it had crossed the orbit of Pluto, marking this significant milestone. Its trajectory took it outward through the solar system, where it entered interstellar space, making it the first spacecraft to achieve this feat. This achievement demonstrated the capability of robotic space missions to go beyond the immediate vicinity of the Earth and the inner solar system. The data and insights gained from Pioneer 10's mission have contributed greatly to our understanding of the solar system and interstellar space.