The Voyager Spacecraft: A Journey to the Great Beyond

In 1977, two probes were launched on a mission to explore the vast expanse of space, venturing further than any other spacecraft had gone before. The twin Voyager spacecraft were designed to travel beyond the heliosphere, the protective bubble surrounding our solar system, and into the unknown regions of interstellar space. Voyager 1 reached the beginning of interstellar space in 2012, while Voyager 2 reached the boundary in 2018, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.

The Voyager probes have been exploring the unfamiliar region of interstellar space for nearly 48 years, but their journey is gradually coming to an end. The spacecraft are powered by heat from decaying plutonium, which is converted into electricity, but they are losing about 4 watts of power every year. To conserve power, the mission team has been forced to turn off unnecessary systems, including some science instruments. Each Voyager spacecraft began with 10 instruments, but now they have just three each.

The Challenges of Operating a Mission for Decades

The Voyager team, some of whom have worked on the mission since its inception, are facing tough decisions to keep the mission going. They have to come up with creative solutions to resolve glitches that affect the spacecraft as they navigate the harsh space environment. Linda Spilker, the Voyager mission’s project scientist, spoke to Gizmodo about the challenges of operating an outdated spacecraft and passing on the knowledge of the Voyagers to newer generations of scientists and engineers.

In an interview with Gizmodo, Spilker reflected on her time working on the Voyager mission, which began in 1977. She recalled the excitement of joining the mission and the opportunity to explore the outer planets of our solar system. Over the years, the mission has evolved, with a smaller team and fewer instruments, but the challenges of operating a mission for decades have been significant.

The Emotional Decision to Turn Off Instruments

Spilker acknowledged that turning off Voyager’s instruments is an emotional decision, particularly for the team members who have worked on the mission for decades. The instruments have been a part of their lives for over 50 years, and shutting them down is like losing a best friend. However, the team is proud of the data they have collected and the discoveries they have made, and they are hopeful that they can get one or both spacecraft to the 50th anniversary in 2027.

The Technical Challenges of Operating an Outdated Spacecraft

The Voyager spacecraft were built in the 1970s, and the technology is outdated. The team faces challenges such as aging components, power loss, and thermal constraints. The spacecraft’s bus, which contains the electronics, is getting colder, and the team has to worry about the thermal constraints and the potential for components to fail. Additionally, the individual thrusters that align the spacecraft and keep the antenna pointed at Earth are slowly clogging up, making it harder to communicate with the spacecraft.

Passing on Knowledge to the Next Generation

Spilker emphasized the importance of passing on the knowledge of the Voyagers to the next generation of scientists and engineers. The team has brought back retirees who worked on the mission in the 1970s to help with the current challenges, and they have also been training new people to take over the mission. The scientists are working with guest investigators and modelers to help pass on their knowledge and ensure that the data collected by Voyager is used to inform future missions.

The Legacy of the Voyager Mission

The Voyager mission has left a lasting legacy in the field of space exploration. The discovery of the heliopause and the exploration of interstellar space have raised new questions and sparked new areas of research. Spilker reflected on the significance of the mission and the discoveries that have been made, including the detection of cosmic rays and the measurement of the magnetic field in interstellar space.

The Future of Space Exploration

As the Voyager mission comes to an end, there is a debate about whether to launch another interstellar probe. Spilker believes that it would be a great idea, and that a new probe could go further than Voyager and explore new regions of interstellar space. She emphasized the importance of continued exploration and the need to answer the questions that have been raised by the Voyager mission.

Conclusion

The Voyager spacecraft have been an incredible success, and their journey has inspired generations of scientists and engineers. As the mission comes to an end, the team is proud of what they have achieved, and they are hopeful that they can get one or both spacecraft to the 50th anniversary in 2027. The legacy of the Voyager mission will continue to inspire new areas of research and exploration, and the team is confident that the next generation of scientists and engineers will take on the challenge of exploring the vast expanse of space.