NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, the most distant human-made object in space, has resumed sending scientific data after resolving a computer problem that began in November.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced this week that four of Voyager 1’s instruments are back in operation. In April, the mission team first received meaningful information from the spacecraft, and they recently commanded it to restart its study of the interstellar environment.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 has been journeying through space for over four decades. Before venturing into interstellar space—the vast expanse between star systems—it provided groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of a thin ring around Jupiter and the identification of several moons orbiting Saturn.
Currently, Voyager 1 is over 24.14 billion kilometers from Earth. Its instruments are designed to collect vital information about plasma waves, magnetic fields, and energetic particles, offering unprecedented insights into the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond.
Voyager 1’s twin, Voyager 2, is also traversing interstellar space and is more than 19.31 billion kilometers away from Earth. Together, these spacecraft continue to expand our understanding of the universe, serving as humanity’s ambassadors to the cosmos.
The successful resumption of data transmission from Voyager 1 marks a significant achievement for NASA, highlighting the durability and longevity of the spacecraft. As both Voyagers continue their historic journey, they provide valuable data that will inform scientists and researchers around the world, including those in Asia, fostering international collaboration in space exploration.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
