Space probe "Voyager", or Journey to the interstellar space

The space probe Voyager-2 was launched on August 20, 1977. Three weeks later, his twin brother with number 1 was launched. And it was he who was lucky enough to become the first spacecraft in the world to overcome the boundaries of the solar system. Of course, various telescopes and data processing stations made it possible to see everything that happens at a huge distance from the Earth. But now scientists have the opportunity to gather much more information.

The idea of launching the "Voyager"

In the late 60's. The last century, the USSR and the United States actively competed with each other in the part of flights to the moon and entering the planet's orbit. Later, when it became clear that human participation in the race for mastering the universe is too dangerous, scientists moved to the development of vehicles controlled by an autopilot.

For example, spacecraft with people inside can not get close to Venus, let alone land on the surface. There's too much radiation and heat. But the data on the planet can be collected by a certain robot with its specific mission. So there was an idea about the launch of the "Pioneers", and behind them the "Voyagers".

The goal of all researchers was one - to collect data on the space or a particular body, whether it be an asteroid or a gas giant. So the space probe Voyager was supposed to study the planets distant from the Earth. A concrete idea, for which all this is necessary for mankind, no. But it is likely that the devices will find useful elements that in the future can be delivered to Earth for use. In general, the "Voyagers" were intended to study distant points of the solar system.

The initial mission of the space explorer

Space probe Voyager-1, as, indeed, and Voyager-2, was quite an expensive project. That's why the cheaper "Pioneers" went first. They proved that it is possible to overcome the asteroid belt , and without any damage. In addition, we managed to find out that Jupiter does not have too much magnetic attraction, and the ships can pass by it.

The first "Pioneer" had already reached Saturn at the time when the Voyagers were launched. They had two main tasks:

1. To study everything that happens behind the belt of asteroids, if possible go further into outer space.
2. Send a message to other civilizations if they meet along the way.

The second task deserves special attention. To implement it in digital format, the apparatus has data on the Earth, the history of the development of mankind, greetings have been recorded in many languages. Also, there are drawings on gold discs, so that other civilizations are presented with real achievements of terrestrial science, and not primitive tablets. Although who knows what they would accept the message for.

Where is the boundary of the solar system?

In fact, the space probe Voyager completed its main tasks more than 20 years ago. This happened when Voyager-2 passed Neptune and distanced from it by 40 thousand km. But, strangely enough, both ships continued to move, each time sending more and more data to Earth. It became clear that the devices would sooner or later overcome the solar system, but no one knew when this would happen. In this role played also the fact that, in fact, no scientist could accurately determine its boundaries.

Some argued that Voyager 1 will remain in the Solar System for another 300 years, or even more. The result could be that space debris, dust and radiation will wipe the device into powder. The fact is that initially, after overcoming Neptune, the ships began to slow down. But later it turned out that this is temporary, since such a long distance from the Sun does not allow to receive energy continuously and at the first demand. So the probes continued on their way.

Several times the media reported that the Voyagers overcame the solar system, but scientists denied this data. And only in 2012 the devices transferred to the Earth that they ceased to receive solar rays as energy, but they are now replaced by galactic ones. This was the proof that the probes either approached the interstellar space or were in it.

Thus, it was possible not only to send the "Voyagers" outside the solar system - today it is precisely known where the boundary of interstellar space lies.

Modern data on the spacecraft

If you adhere to the rules of physics, it is unlikely that the space probe Voyager 1 leaves the solar system. The fact is that its territory, judging by scientific data, ends when the gravitational field of the star ceases. Accordingly, the size of the system is 125,000 a. E. As for the probes, they went only 129 a. E. However, if the apparatus fixes galactic cosmic rays instead of solar beams, then this indicates the end of the possessions of the solar system.

According to modern data, scientists can control the navigation systems of the Voyagers. And this will continue until 2025-2030. Then the probes will be so far away from the planet that the connection with them will simply terminate. Accordingly, the last task that they can perform is to report to other civilizations data on humanity, the Earth's coordinates and the level of development.

Where is Voyager 1 now?

Today, researchers have gone to a record distance from Earth, no other device has reached the same distance. The space probe Voyager-1 is located 19 billion kilometers from the planet. In order to obtain new data, scientists have to wait 17-18 hours. This is the time it takes to get a signal from the device. Accordingly, reverse navigation solutions will be the same.

It is impossible not to name all events with probes real scientific breakthroughs, since they managed to overfulfil the "norm". They did something that scientists did not even expect. That is why such a scientific mission is important not only for NASA employees - it has become the property of all mankind.

Conclusion

The main feature of both "Voyagers" is that they work longer than expected. And no one today can tell exactly how they will behave tomorrow. It is possible that future generations will be able to obtain data on Sirius. But we can not deny the possibility that the devices will simply freeze on their way, as they will stop receiving energy.

In short, the riddles of the space probe "Voyager" will be able to solve only the descendants of modern man. And who knows, maybe these current breakthroughs in the development of the universe might seem primitive. But it is possible that the Voyagers will open new secrets.