Engineers at NASA have given the Voyager 1 probe a successful “nudge” in an attempt to fix a communication problem that has persisted for five months. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, are both traveling through uncharted cosmic territory along the outer reaches of the solar system.
Despite the persistent communication problem that Voyager 1 has been experiencing since November, a recent signal received from the spacecraft indicates that progress may be in the works. The spacecraft, currently the farthest from Earth at about 24 billion kilometers away, has been working diligently to transmit data back to mission control.
The Voyager probes were initially designed to last five years but have far exceeded that timeline, making them the two longest-operating spacecraft in history. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have provided invaluable information about our solar system and beyond, even after achieving their primary mission goals of exploring Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune decades ago.
The recent breakthrough in communication with Voyager 1 comes after the spacecraft’s flight data system began sending a repeating pattern of code last November. NASA’s mission team has been working tirelessly to understand and correct the issue, ultimately sending a successful “poke” command to Voyager 1 on March 1.
As the team continues to analyze the decoded signal received from Voyager 1, they remain hopeful that a solution to the ongoing communication problem will soon be found. The aging Voyager probes have faced various challenges over the years, but their resilience and longevity have allowed them to continue exploring the cosmos and sending valuable data back to Earth.
Stay tuned for further updates on the Voyager mission as the team works to unravel the mysteries of deep space and keep these historic spacecraft operational.