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Spacecraft Longevity

All articles tagged with #spacecraft longevity

space2 months ago•14 min saved

Car-sized Voyager 1 keeps moving outward past Pluto, outlasting its builders

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1—roughly the size of a small car—still sails outward at about 17 km/s, now well beyond Pluto’s orbit at 166 AU. It communicates at light speed, with signals taking over 23 hours to reach Earth, while its power has dwindled to ~250 watts and only two instruments remain active. The mission has outlived its original four-year plan, outlasting most of its creators, and it carries the Golden Record as a lasting message as it drifts through interstellar space for billions of years.

via Space Daily|

#golden-record #interstellar-space #jpl

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Voyager 1 Celebrates 48 Years Exploring Space

Voyager 1, launched nearly 50 years ago in 1977, continues to send data from deep space despite aging and reduced instrument functionality, with engineers working to extend its mission into the 2030s, making each communication a valuable bonus.

via theregister.com|

#deep-space #nasa #science

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Voyager 1 Encounters Mysterious Hot Zone in Deep Space

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is nearing the end of its operational life as its power sources decline, with NASA managing a phased shutdown of instruments to extend its mission into the early 2030s, after which it will go silent when power or critical systems fail.

via WION|

#interstellar-space #nasa #science

science-and-technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Voyager Probes: 50 Years of Unyielding Exploration

NASA's Voyager spacecraft, launched nearly 50 years ago, continue to operate despite dwindling power and communication challenges. Voyager 1 recently experienced a communication pause due to a fault protection system triggered by power issues, but engineers have restored contact. Both Voyager probes are expected to remain operational until at least the early 2030s, thanks to the ingenuity of the Voyager team and upgrades to the Deep Space Network. The mission's longevity is a testament to the original design and the dedication of successive generations of engineers.

via The Register|

#communications #nasa #science-and-technology