2023-08-01 17:20:46
The mythical Voyager 2 no longer responds. NASA does not receive more data from its probe launched in 1977, which is due to an error of ” maneuver “, since July 21. The American space agency had planned a series of commands to the device, causing movement of the antenna used to communicate with the Earth. The latter would have rotated 2 degrees. Voyager 2 is currently 19.94 billion kilometers from its starting point, following 45 years of mission.
Cutting through the cosmos at 55,000 km/h (this speed being relative to that of the Sun), the probe’s instruments must be very precisely oriented so that astronomers can receive information thanks to the Deep Space Network. This system, whose first installations were established in the 1950s by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is mainly made up of satellite dishes scattered around the world, providing communication with the most distant probes in space.
Next signal: October 15, 2023
Fortunately, Voyager 2 is not lost. The second most distant land device from Earth following Voyager 1 will send a signal back to NASA facilities on October 15. On this date, Voyager 2 will return to its original position. In the meantime, it should continue its journey in the confines of cosmic darkness, as planned by the engineers of the American administration. After restoring contact with Voyager 2, time will be running out: the probe’s energy reserves might run out by 2026. Only absolute silence will remain following a journey of almost 50 years.
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