2023-08-02 17:04:26
If communications with the Voyager 2 probe were interrupted on Tuesday August 1, NASA assured that its mythical “vessel” was nevertheless “in good health”. But what are the missions of this probe currently 19.9 billion kilometers from Earth?
It has been nearly 46 years since the Voyager 2 probe was sent into space by NASA. Launched in 1977 with its twin sister, Voyager 1, to explore the planets of the solar system, the Voyager 2 probe left the sun’s protective bubble, also called the heliosphere, in November 2018.
She has since entered interstellar space. It is only the second machine, following the Voyager 1 in 2012, to cross this crucial milestone, as recalled Numerama. Since then, its mission has not been quite the same as when it was launched in 1977.
Studying the heliopause
Indeed, regarding ten articles published in Nature Astronomy reveal the information sent by the Voayager 2 probe. This transmits crucial data on the process of crossing the heliopause, the border between the heliosphere and interstellar space.
In this area of space, several elements collide: interstellar particles as well as supersonic particles from solar winds, forming what is called the “terminal shock”. Thus, crossing this heliosphere is a real challenge.
The Voyager 1 and 2 probes however succeeded in this famous crossing, but the data collected by the first are very incomplete. Voyager 1’s plasma measuring instrument has been broken since 1980. Fortunately, Voyager 2’s functionality is intact.
A boon for astronomers: Voyager 2’s crossing beyond the heliopause has indeed confirmed that a boundary is defined, thanks to the capture of plasma differences between the different zones.
The power of the solar winds
The Voyager 2 probe has also solved another mystery: that of the range of the solar winds. “The old idea that the solar wind would gradually blow away as it went ever further into interstellar space is simply not true,” revealed Don Gurnett, one of the scientists who received and analyzed the data.
The heliopause is therefore strong enough and distinct enough to stop the progress of these solar winds in interstellar space. However, the Voyager 2 probe also detected that some solar particles may have escaped from the heliosphere and therefore crossed the heliopause.
Finally, Voyager 2 completed the data already transmitted by Voyager 1: the plasma contained in interstellar space is colder and much denser than that of the heliosphere.
The two NASA devices therefore transmit very valuable information on this region of space that is still very little known.
This Tuesday, NASA wanted to reassure by assuring that the Voyager 2 probe was in “good health” despite the interruption of contact with it, relayed AFP. It should be restored by October thanks to a maneuver to reorient its antenna.
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