December 23, 2024

Still out There: NASA Detects Carrier Signal From Voyager 2 Amid Communication Blackout

By NASA
August 1, 2023

This interim attempt might not yield the wanted result. If that shows to be the case, the group will go back to the original plan, awaiting the spacecrafts automated reset of its orientation in October.

In spite of interaction interruption with Voyager 2, NASAs DSN has received a provider signal from the spacecraft, validating its operational status and trajectory. An early effort to bring back complete interaction will be made before the automated antenna readjustment arranged for October. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Following our previous report on NASAs Voyager 2 spacecraft, which lost its capability to send information or get commands due to a minor misalignment of its antenna, theres been a substantial development. The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN), making use of several antennas, has actually gotten a provider signal from the stubborn spacecraft.
A carrier signal functions as the avenue through which the spacecraft sends data back to Earth. Although the found signal is too faint to extract any significant data, its detection verifies that Voyager 2 is still operating. Moreover, the spacecraft stays on its expected trajectory.
This artists concept shows what Deep Space Station-23, a brand-new antenna meal at the Deep Space Networks complex in Goldstone, California. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
While the spacecrafts antenna is set up to immediately adjust towards Earth in mid-October, the group isnt leaving any stone unturned. They plan to make an earlier effort to command Voyager 2, even while its antenna is still directed far from Earth. This will involve utilizing a DSN antenna to magnify (“shout”) the command to the spacecraft to reorient its antenna.

Regardless of interaction disturbance with Voyager 2, NASAs DSN has gotten a carrier signal from the spacecraft, verifying its operational status and trajectory. While the spacecrafts antenna is scheduled to immediately adjust towards Earth in mid-October, the group isnt leaving any stone unturned. This will involve using a DSN antenna to magnify (“shout”) the command to the spacecraft to reorient its antenna.