In 1977, NASA launched two probes designed to last five years. Voyager 1 and 2 are now the only human-made objects in interstellar space, still operating, still transmitting, funded by a team of engineers some of whom have worked on the mission for nearly
Launched in 1977 for a five-year mission, NASA's Voyager probes remain the only human-made objects operating in interstellar space.
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The brief
NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 probes continue to operate and transmit data from interstellar space decades after their 1977 launch. Voyager 1 is currently transmitting from more than 25 billion kilometers, or 15 billion miles, away from Earth.
Coverage from Space Daily, Make Tech Easier, and 19FortyFive emphasizes the technical constraints of the mission, noting that Voyager 1 is powered by less than 250 watts of decaying plutonium. ScienceBlog.com highlights the legacy of the original engineers who built the probes knowing they would likely not see the craft leave the solar system.
According to it-online.co.za, Voyager 1 is currently on track to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth. The signal from the probe currently takes over 23 hours to reach its destination.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 6h ago.
Quick answers
How long were the Voyager probes originally designed to last?
The probes were designed to last five years.
What is powering Voyager 1?
It is powered by less than 250 watts of decaying plutonium.
How long does it take for Voyager 1's signal to reach Earth?
The signal currently takes over 23 hours to reach Earth.
Coverage (5)
- The engineers who built Voyager knew they would almost certainly be dead before it left the solar system, and they built it anyway, a gift from people who would never see where their work would go ScienceBlog.com · 1d ago
- Voyager 1 is still transmitting from more than 25 billion kilometres away, powered by less than 250 watts of decaying plutonium — a signal that now takes over 23 hours to reach Earth, carried by a radio no stronger than a refrigerator lightbulb Make Tech Easier · 1d ago
- NASA's Voyager 1 Radio Transmitter Is Weaker Than a Refrigerator Lightbulb. It Still Reaches Earth From 15 Billion Miles Away 19FortyFive · 1d ago
- Voyager 1 on track to reach one light-day from Earth it-online.co.za · 1d ago
- In 1977, NASA launched two probes designed to last five years. Voyager 1 and 2 are now the only human-made objects in interstellar space, still operating, still transmitting, funded by a team of engineers some of whom have worked on the mission for nearly Space Daily · 1d ago broke it first
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