Voyager 1: NASA 40-Year-Old Satellite Responded To Signal 13 Billion Miles Into Outer Space (Interstellar Space). |
As we all know, a spacecraft of that age is going to develop some technical issues and Voyager 1 is no exception this we know. The Voyager 1 altitude control thrusters had been wearing down gradually and these are what the vessel uses to point its antenna toward the planet Earth. This is indeed a bit of a problem because if the Voyager 1’s antenna is not facing us here on earth, then there is absolutely no way of contacting it at all.
Voyager 1: NASA 40-Year-Old Satellite In Space Close To Saturn |
Furthermore, on Tuesday, November 28, NASA fired up the thrusters again, however, they had to wait for a total time of about 19 hours and 35 minutes for confirmation that their mission was a success, as that is how long it took for Voyager 1 to send the results over to Earth, a staggering 13 billion miles back to Earth. That confirmation arrived the following day to great jubilation from everyone involved in the operation.
Voyager 1: Some Mechanical Part Of Voyager 1 NASA 40-Year-Old Satellite In Space |
So as we have it “The Voyager 1 team got more excited each time with each milestone in the thruster test,” Todd Barber from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said in a statement. “The mood was one of relief, joy, and incredulity after witnessing these well-rested thrusters pick up the baton as if no time had passed at all.”
Voyager 1: Infographics of the Voyager 1. |
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