After 35 Years of Travel, Voyager 1 Close to Interstellar Space

[Guest]

NASA isn't just about search for traces of life these days.

After 35 Years of Travel, Voyager 1 Close to Interstellar Space : Read more

 

[rbj]

What a fantastic human acheivement - and what a brilliant design to still be going strong - well done to all involved!

 

[aznguy0028]

This is so freakin' awesome, considering it's still alive and kicking with technology made back in the 70's.

 

[HenrikG]

I couldn't agree more. Super interesting. I'm 32 and it blows my mind that this thing was launched three years before me. haha

 

[drwho1]

"Voyager 1 and its sister space craft Voyager 2 are not expected to reach the vicinity of another star within 40,000 years."

Just wake me up then....
do NOT forget to wake me up!
you hear me?
/sarcasm

On a more serious note, it is amazing that it is still working after so many years.
Good job NASA!

 

[alidan]

[citation][nom]aznguy0028[/nom]This is so freakin' awesome, considering it's still alive and kicking with technology made back in the 70's.[/citation]

and yet i have dealt with 6 360's dieing sense launch... yea... how far we came and how much we regressed.

 

[greghome]

Now, I'm just hoping they're able to get a solar sail probe to catch up and surpass both voyagers

 

[cookoy]

Most awesome. Just how it is able to communicate with earth and how earth is able to track such a small object that far away - those are unbelievable feats.

 

[jabliese]

Wonder how long it would take an ion propelled satellite to catch up?

 

[Temp_Username]

I bet this spacecraft was 100% american made. Sad they get parts from china now.

 

[witcherx]

where no man has gone before!

 

[ddpruitt]

They don't make 'em like they used to!

 

[chewy1963]

[citation][nom]cookoy[/nom]Most awesome. Just how it is able to communicate with earth and how earth is able to track such a small object that far away - those are unbelievable feats.[/citation]

It has a transceiver with a dish for an antenna. On earth the Deep Space Network (world wide network of large antennas) receive signals from Voyager I and transmits commands to it. Signals take about 17 hours to make the trip from earth to Voyager I.

 

[chewy1963]

Oh and the power source on Voyager I are three RTG's (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) not solar, so it can continue to transmit and receive signals at least until 2025.

 

[Northwestern]

"Back in my day, parts were built to last! Want proof? See the Voyager 1!"

 

[machvelocy]

122AU...
wow..
this means the signal released by the voyager have to travel 16 hours to be received at earth

 

[CaedenV]

[citation][nom]witcherx[/nom]where no man has gone before![/citation]
and no man has gone yet!

I wonder how many years it will be before we can build a ship that will pass Voyager.

 

[wysir]

[citation][nom]CaedenV[/nom]and no man has gone yet!I wonder how many years it will be before we can build a ship that will pass Voyager.[/citation]

..and coming up on the left you will see Voyager 1. Voyager 1 was the biggest feat for mandkind's journey into outerspace, right behind Apollo 13 putting the first man on the moon.

 

[madjimms]

See people, Nuclear energy is perfectly safe when used properly. Nearly all long range spacecraft have very small nuclear devices powering them (in combination with solar)

 

[madjimms]

[citation][nom]win7guru[/nom]I bet this spacecraft was 100% american made. Sad they get parts from china now.[/citation]
This kind of thinking is why America is failing in the world.

 

[kristi_metal]

Can't believe they built such a solid equipment, with electronical devices that still work after all those years, and they work in unfavorable conditions, in space where there is a lot of radiation.

 

[TechnoD]

"I wonder how many years it will be before we can build a ship that will pass Voyager."
- CaedenV

Well, the ship will need to be capable of Warp 9.95.

(star trek joke)

 

[postedpro]

Go V'Ger Go!

 

[Camikazi]

[citation][nom]technoD[/nom]"I wonder how many years it will be before we can build a ship that will pass Voyager."- CaedenVWell, the ship will need to be capable of Warp 9.95.(star trek joke)[/citation]
Voyager has a max of 9.975 so 9.95 would never catch it

 

[halcyon]

Awesome.