SPACE
What is the Voyager 2 probe and where is it now?
One of NASA’s oldest probes in operation lost contact on Tuesday after 46 years exploring the reaches of space. How can it be located?
NASA, the US space agency, announced that it is receiving faint signals from the Voyager 2 spacecraft which it recently lost. It had stopped receiving commands nearly two weeks ago after the wrong command tilted its communication dish in the wrong direction.
Voyager 2 was launched by NASA on 20 August, 1977. The main objectives of Voyager 2 were to explore Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as their associated moons and rings. It passed these planets within 12 years of its launch.
- Jupiter: July 9, 1979
- Saturn: August 25, 1981
- Uranus: January 24, 1986
- Neptune: August 25, 1989
The Voyager program included two identical spacecraft: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. After completing its primary mission, Voyager 2 continued its journey beyond Neptune and entered interstellar space. It became the second human-made object, after Voyager 1.
Both spacecraft carry the ‘Golden Record,’ a record containing a selection of sounds and images representing Earth’s diversity. The record was intended to serve as a message to potential alien life.
Where is Voyager 2?
The spacecraft is more than 12 billion miles away from Earth meaning communication takes 18 hours to get a response. With contact reestablished it is hoped the mission can continue; it would be impossible to find it again otherwise.
NASA said the news confirms Voyager 2 is still broadcasting and is in “good health.”
Full communication could be completed on 15 October when a scheduled antenna orientation will take place.