NEW DELHI: Us has been successfully restored Voyager 1 in working order a few months after encountering a serious computer problem. The spacecraft, which has been transmitting data about the outer planets and the far reaches of the solar system for nearly fifty years, faced a significant problem that threatened its mission.
“The spacecraft has resumed gathering information about interstellar space,” NASA announced, bringing relief and joy to the space community.
The problem, which emerged in November, involved the spacecraft’s ability to send coherent engineering and science data back to Earth. Engineers spent months diagnosing and fixing the problem. This process was particularly challenging because of the nearly two-day communication delay with Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles from Earth.
Since last year, the space community has been concerned about the prospects of the aging probe. Attempts to fix it seemed increasingly uncertain.
In February, Suzanne Dodd, Voyager mission project manager, described the problem as “the most serious issue” the probe had faced since she began leading the mission in 2010.
Launched in 1977 along with its twin, Voyager 2, Voyager 1 embarked on a mission to explore the outer planets. The unique alignment of the planets at the time allowed probes to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, using the gravity of each planet to carry them to their next destination.
After completing its primary mission, Voyager 1 continued its journey to the edge of the solar system. In 1990, he took the famous “pale blue dot” photo, capturing the Earth as a tiny dot in the vastness of space.
In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space. Since then, it, along with its twin Voyager 2, which followed six years later, has collected invaluable data on the heliosphere, the region of space influenced by the sun.
Each Voyager spacecraft carries a golden phonograph filled with sounds and images depicting life on Earth, destined to be discovered by potential extraterrestrial civilizations.
In April, NASA reported significant progress in restoring Voyager 1, which had begun sending back “usable” data about its engineering systems and health. Late last month, they managed to restore functionality to two of Voyager 1’s science instruments, enabling it to continue its mission and send back science data.
On Thursday, NASA revealed that it had completely restored the remaining science instruments, returning Voyager 1 to normal operation.
Despite this success, Voyager 1’s extended mission may be short-lived. NASA had estimated that the nuclear-powered generators on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 could expire around 2025. However, Voyager 1’s recent achievements show its ability to defy expectations.
“The spacecraft has resumed gathering information about interstellar space,” NASA announced, bringing relief and joy to the space community.
The problem, which emerged in November, involved the spacecraft’s ability to send coherent engineering and science data back to Earth. Engineers spent months diagnosing and fixing the problem. This process was particularly challenging because of the nearly two-day communication delay with Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles from Earth.
Since last year, the space community has been concerned about the prospects of the aging probe. Attempts to fix it seemed increasingly uncertain.
In February, Suzanne Dodd, Voyager mission project manager, described the problem as “the most serious issue” the probe had faced since she began leading the mission in 2010.
Launched in 1977 along with its twin, Voyager 2, Voyager 1 embarked on a mission to explore the outer planets. The unique alignment of the planets at the time allowed probes to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, using the gravity of each planet to carry them to their next destination.
After completing its primary mission, Voyager 1 continued its journey to the edge of the solar system. In 1990, he took the famous “pale blue dot” photo, capturing the Earth as a tiny dot in the vastness of space.
In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space. Since then, it, along with its twin Voyager 2, which followed six years later, has collected invaluable data on the heliosphere, the region of space influenced by the sun.
Each Voyager spacecraft carries a golden phonograph filled with sounds and images depicting life on Earth, destined to be discovered by potential extraterrestrial civilizations.
In April, NASA reported significant progress in restoring Voyager 1, which had begun sending back “usable” data about its engineering systems and health. Late last month, they managed to restore functionality to two of Voyager 1’s science instruments, enabling it to continue its mission and send back science data.
On Thursday, NASA revealed that it had completely restored the remaining science instruments, returning Voyager 1 to normal operation.
Despite this success, Voyager 1’s extended mission may be short-lived. NASA had estimated that the nuclear-powered generators on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 could expire around 2025. However, Voyager 1’s recent achievements show its ability to defy expectations.
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Image Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com