Stranded In Space
In the vast emptiness of space, two explorers push the boundaries of what we know about outer space. Aptly named, the Voyager probes are traveling further than all other human-made objects and into the mysterious unknown.
Launched in August and September of 1977, the spacecrafts Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were set to take advantage of a useful alignment that allowed for less flight time and fuel. Its trajectory would take it to the outer planets of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune as well as their moons.
The two probes are designed identically, and are equipped with instruments to support their observations. These include imaging systems to provide pictures and others to collect data for planetary analysis. Communication was also an important factor too, as the probes would be traveling very far away and the data had to be transmitted somehow. To address this challenge, scientists and engineers experimented with new techniques on Earth to combine the weaker signals that were received into a more powerful one. The long flight duration of the probes also meant fuel had to be carefully thought out. The power is supplied from thermal generators that convert it into electricity, but this power level drops each year. Also on board is what we call the Golden Record. It’s a message to intelligent life that might discover the probes during their long and far away journey. The Golden Records contain handpicked pieces of our life on Earth. There are images that range from depictions of mathematical formulas to a woman smiling in a supermarket. There’s also different kinds of music, and a greeting to future discoverers of the probe, spoken in languages from around the world.
Although the Golden Records are certainly important, the main impact of the Voyager probes can be seen through the revolutionary data it has collected. The trajectories of the probes were set for them to fly near the outer planets. Voyager 2 launched first, taking a slow and steady approach to Jupiter and Saturn. Although it launched first, it was named Voyager 2 because it was expected to reach the planets after Voyager 1. Voyager 1 then left along a quicker trajectory to observe Jupiter, Saturn, and its moon Titan, before heading out of the solar system. However, Voyager 2 went on to see Uranus and Neptune. At each planetary encounter were new and exciting discoveries. Jupiter was found to have more moons and various interesting natural phenomena. A flyby of Saturn revealed 3 new moons and key insight about its composition. The encounters with Uranus and Neptune were actually the first times they were seen close up, which unleashed a wealth of knowledge about the two outer planets.
But at this point, the researchers working on the mission decided to cut Voyager 2’s cameras in order to save power for other instruments. And similarly, Voyager 1’s cameras are turned off too, but not before it transmits its last image from which the famous “pale blue dot” photo originated. Despite having no use for its cameras, the two probes continue on with useful data. For example, it still collects information about solar winds and the interstellar space they are traveling in. On one momentous occasion, where Voyager 2 crossed the heliosheath—the area outside the reach of the sun’s magnetic field and solar wind—researchers were able to analyze its trip through. Voyager 1 then made history by being the first human-made object in interstellar space and into the furthest reaches of our solar system so far. A few years later, Voyager 2 joined it. From then, they are still continually traveling onward.
Unfortunately, every mission is not without its own difficulties. Recently, a blip in NASA’s routine transmission occurred. After accidentally sending out the wrong command, Voyager 2’s antennas were positioned away from Earth. To fix this, they had to send the strongest signal they could for Voyager 2 so it could re correct itself. SInce the probe is so far away, it took over a day to wait for the results. Thankfully, it worked and the communications are still ongoing. But this isn’t the last time something like this could happen. With the probes nearing their retirement point, faults are bound to occur. Its power is dwindling and the distance between Earth and the probes is forever widening.
In the meantime, the Voyager probes will continue to expand our knowledge until they stop functioning. And we can surely take comfort in its journey onward. It will always carry a trace of humankind and our enduring spirit of exploration.
