The Voyager 2 space probe launched on August 20, 1977. Three weeks later, his twin brother was launched with number 1. And it was he who was lucky enough to become the first spacecraft in the world that was able to overcome the boundaries of the solar system. Of course, various telescopes and data processing stations made it possible to see everything that happens at a great distance from the Earth. But now scientists have the opportunity to collect much more information.
The idea of launching Voyager
In the late 60s. of the last century, the USSR and the USA actively competed among themselves in terms of flights to the moon and entry into orbit of the planet. Later, when it became clear that human participation in the race for the development of the Universe is too dangerous, scientists turned to the development of devices controlled by autopilot.
For example, spaceships with people inside will not be able to get close to Venus, and even more so - to land on the surface. There is too much radiation and high temperature. But data about the planet can be collected by a certain robot with its specific mission. So the idea of launching the "Pioneers", and after them the "Voyagers" appeared.
The goal of all researchers was one - to collect data about space or a specific body, whether it be an asteroid or a gas giant. So the Voyager space probe was supposed to study the planets distant from the Earth. There is no concrete idea why all this is necessary for humanity. But it is likely that the devices will find useful elements that in the future can be delivered to Earth for use. In general, the Voyagers were intended to study the distant points of the solar system.
Space Explorer Initial Mission
The Voyager-1 space probe, as well as the Voyager-2, was a rather expensive project. That is why the cheaper "Pioneers" first set off. They proved that it is quite possible to overcome the asteroid belt, and without much damage. In addition, we managed to find out that Jupiter does not have too much magnetic attraction, and ships can pass by it.
The first Pioneer had already reached Saturn at the time the Voyagers launched. They had two main tasks:
- To study everything that happens behind the asteroid belt, if possible go further into outer space.
- Send a message to other civilizations if they meet along the way.
The second task deserves special attention. For its implementation in digital format on the devices there is data about the Earth, the history of the development of mankind, greetings were recorded in many languages. There are also drawings on golden disks so that other civilizations will see the real achievements of earthly science, rather than primitive tablets. Although who knows what they would accept the message for.
Where is the boundary of the solar system?
In fact, the Voyager space probe performed its main tasks more than 20 years ago. This happened when Voyager-2 passed Neptune and moved away from it by 40 thousand km. But, strangely enough, both ships continued to move, each time sending to the Earth more and more new data. It became clear that the vehicles would sooner or later overcome the solar system, but no one knew when exactly this would happen. This also played a role in the fact that, in fact, no scientist could accurately determine its boundaries.
Some claimed that Voyager 1 would remain in the solar system for another 300 years, if not more. The result could be that space debris, dust and radiation will erase the device into powder. The fact is that initially, after overcoming Neptune, the ships began to slow down. But later it turned out that this is temporary, since such a distant distance from the Sun does not allow us to receive energy constantly and on demand. So the probes continued on.
Several times the media reported that the "Voyagers" overcame the solar system, but scientists have denied this data. And only in 2012, the spacecraft transmitted to Earth that they stopped receiving the sun's rays as energy, but now they are being replaced by galactic ones. This served as evidence that the probes either approached the interstellar space, or are in it.
Thus, it was possible not only to send the Voyagers outside the Solar System - today it is precisely known where the boundary of interstellar space is.
Modern data on the spacecraft
If you adhere to the rules of physics, it is unlikely that the Voyager-1 space probe will leave the solar system. The fact is that its territory, judging by scientific data, ends when the star’s gravitational field ceases. Accordingly, the size of the system is 125, 000 a. e. As for the probes, they left only 129 a. e. However, if instead of the sun's rays the spacecraft fix galactic spacecraft, then this indicates the end of the possessions of the solar system.
According to modern data, scientists can control the navigation systems of the Voyagers. And so it will continue somewhere until 2025-2030. Then the probes will move so far away from the planet that the connection with them will simply break. Accordingly, the last task that they can accomplish is to bring to other civilizations data about humanity, Earth coordinates and level of development.
Where is Voyager 1 now?
Today, researchers have gone to a record distance from Earth, no other device has reached the same distance. The Voyager 1 space probe is located 19 billion kilometers from the planet. In order to get new data, scientists have to wait 17-18 hours. It takes so much time to get a signal from the device. Accordingly, reverse navigation solutions will arrive equally.
It is impossible not to call all the events with probes real scientific breakthroughs, since they managed to exceed the "norm". They did what scientists did not even count on. That is why such a scientific mission is important not only for NASA employees - it has become the property of all mankind.
