Voyager 1
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NASA
Our Pale Blue Dot
Earth is but a tiny light blue dot in this 30th anniversary version of the iconic “Pale Blue Dot” image. The original photo, taken by NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft on Feb. 14, 1990, is now 35 years old. Voyager 1 was 3.7 billion miles (6 billion km) away from the Sun, giving it a unique vantage point to take a series of photos…
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NASA
NASA Administrator Pays Tribute to President Carter
The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Sunday’s passing of President Jimmy Carter: “President Carter was the pinnacle of a public servant, dedicating his life to making our world a better place. He showed us each and every person has the power to make a difference. From providing for those in need, protecting the environment, and championing civil…
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NASA
Still Kickin’ Since the ’70s: NASA’s Voyager Mission Keeps Exploring
NASA’s Voyager mission launched in the 1970s. Today, it’s making history as it conducts new science. But how are two spacecraft from the ’70s not just surviving, but thriving farther out in space than any other spacecraft has been before? A Little Mission Background Voyager is a NASA mission made up of two different spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, which…
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NASA
Instructions for Aliens
The golden records placed aboard Voyager 1 and 2 each have a cover with special etchings, seen here in this photo from Sept. 4, 1977. These drawings show how the record should be used to receive a message from Earth. For example, the drawing in the bottom right corner is of the phonograph record and the stylus carried with it;…
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NASA
Voyager 1 Team Accomplishes Tricky Thruster Swap
The spacecraft uses its thrusters to stay pointed at Earth, but after 47 years in space some of the fuel tubes have become clogged. Engineers working on NASA’s Voyager 1 probe have successfully mitigated an issue with the spacecraft’s thrusters, which keep the distant explorer pointed at Earth so that it can receive commands, send engineering data, and provide the unique…
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NASA
Voyager 1 Returning Science Data From All Four Instruments
The spacecraft has resumed gathering information about interstellar space. NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is conducting normal science operations for the first time following a technical issue that arose in November 2023. The team partially resolved the issue in April when they prompted the spacecraft to begin returning engineering data, which includes information about the health and status of the spacecraft. On May…
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NASA
Voyager 1 Light-Sensing Instrument Non-operational
Project officials report light-sensing instrument aboard NASA’s Voyager 1, that had difficulty during encounter with the planet Jupiter March 5th, has been confirmed as no longer being able to record useful data. Tests conducted last week indicate that the light sensitivity of the instrument, called photopolarimeter, has almost reached zero. The photopolarimetry is one of eleven science experiments conducted by…
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NASA
NASA’s Voyager Team Focuses on Software Patch, Thrusters
The efforts should help extend the lifetimes of the agency’s interstellar explorers. Engineers for NASA’s Voyager mission are taking steps to help make sure both spacecraft, launched in 1977, continue to explore interstellar space for years to come. One effort addresses fuel residue that seems to be accumulating inside narrow tubes in some of the thrusters on the spacecraft. The thrusters are…
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