VOYAGER 1 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: NASA recently announced that the Voyager 1 probe is returning usable information to ground control.

Voyager 1

• About: It is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, along with its twin Voyager 2, with the aim of exploring the outer Solar System and beyond.
• Record Distance from Earth: Currently, Voyager 1 holds the record for being the most distant human-made object from Earth.
• Boundary Crossing: Voyager 1 marked a historic milestone by becoming the first spacecraft to cross the heliosphere, the boundary where the influence of our solar system ends and that of interstellar space begins.
• Discoveries at Jupiter and Saturn: At Jupiter, Voyager 1 discovered a thin ring and two new moons, Thebe and Metis. At Saturn, it found five new moons and a new ring named the G-ring.
• Golden Record: Voyager 1 carries a golden record containing sounds and images representing the diversity of life and culture on Earth, intended for potential encounters with extraterrestrial life.

Voyager 2

• About: It is  a space probe, was launched by NASA on August 20, 1977, as part of the Voyager program, which includes Voyager 1.
• Objective: To study the outer planets of our solar system along with their moons, followed by an interstellar journey.
• Interstellar Achievement: Voyager 2 holds the distinction of being the second spacecraft to venture into interstellar space, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.