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Voyager: A Journey to the Stars
Voyager 1: The First to Reach Interstellar Space
In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft on a mission to explore the outer planets of our solar system. Little did they know that these spacecraft would go on to make history as the first human-made objects to venture into interstellar space.
Voyager 1's Discoveries
Voyager 1 has made a number of important discoveries during its journey, including:
- A thin ring around Jupiter
- Two new Jovian moons
- The location of the solar wind's termination shock
In March 2011, Voyager 1 was commanded to change its orientation to measure the sideways motion of the solar wind at that location in space. This maneuver allowed scientists to determine that Voyager 1 had entered interstellar space, becoming the first human-made object to do so.
Voyager 1 Today
Voyager 1 continues its journey through interstellar space, providing valuable data back to Earth about the environment beyond our solar system. The spacecraft is now over 11 billion miles from Earth and is expected to continue transmitting data back to Earth until 2040.
Voyager 2: Exploring the Outer Planets
Voyager 2, which was launched a few months after Voyager 1, has also made a number of important discoveries during its mission. These include:
- The first close-up images of Uranus and Neptune
- Evidence of a possible ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa
- The discovery of the Kuiper Belt, a vast region of icy bodies beyond Neptune
Voyager 2 is now over 9 billion miles from Earth and is expected to continue transmitting data back to Earth until 2035.
The Legacy of the Voyager Missions
The Voyager missions have been incredibly successful, providing scientists with a wealth of new information about our solar system and the space beyond. The spacecraft have also inspired generations of scientists and engineers, and they continue to play a vital role in our exploration of space.
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