Voyager 2 is currently located practically 20 billion kilometers from Earth, racing at over 55,000 kilometers per hour through interstellar area. Because July 21, the probe hasnt been able to receive commands from ground controllers or send out data back to NASAs Deep Area Network– a set of huge radio antennas across the world.
Artist principle showing NASAs Voyager spacecraft against a background of stars. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltec.
Now, NASA has actually finally chosen up some signal from Voyager 2, after losing contact with it two weeks ago.
A spacecrafts heart beat
The probes released in 1977 within a couple of weeks of each other to explore the planets and moons of the outer planetary system. Voyager 1 went into interstellar area in 2012 and Voyager 2 in 2018. Keeping them flying for many years has actually been a huge venture, particularly considering their old computer system software application from the 1970s.
Voyager 2 is the 2nd spacecraft to go into interstellar space. In 2018, the spacecraft joined its twin, Voyager 1, as the only human-made challenge enter area beyond the solar system. The Voyager missions were created to benefit from an unique planetary positioning to study the external solar system. Particularly, Voyager 2 targets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Its like hearing the spacecrafts heart beat, said NASA, after reestablishing contact with the Voyager 2 probe. Now, NASA has identified the signal once again throughout a routine scan of the sky.
NASA was pleasantly surprised when it found the probes “carrier signal” today using the Deep Space Network. While this indicates Voyager 2 is still operating, its not yet responding to brand-new commands. The next step will then be to try to make contact. NASA will attempt today when the Canberra dish beams in the instructions of Voyager 2.
Its like hearing the spacecrafts heartbeat, stated NASA, after reestablishing contact with the Voyager 2 probe. Voyager 2 is the 2nd spacecraft to go into interstellar space. While this means Voyager 2 is still functioning, its not yet reacting to new commands. NASA will try this week when the Canberra dish beams in the direction of Voyager 2.
The probe is so far away that software application commands sent from Earth take 18 hours to arrive. If this doesnt work, objective controllers will have to wait till October when Voyager 2 should reset instantly.
Up next, NASA expects Voyager 2 will stay on its organized trajectory, even if it ultimately does not get the commands from the mission controllers. On the other hand, Voyager 1, presently situated 24 billion kilometers from Earth, is working typically and regularly interacting with the Deep Space Network, the space agency said.
” We enlisted the assistance of the [Deep Space Network] and Radio Science groups to help to see if we might hear a signal from Voyager 2,” Suzanne Dodd, Voyagers project manager, told AFP. “This achieved success in that we see the heartbeat signal from the spacecraft. So, we know the spacecraft lives and operating. This buoyed our spirits.”
Voyager 1 got in interstellar space in 2012 and Voyager 2 in 2018.