NASA Restores Contact with Voyager 2 Probe!

Many an unmanned spacecraft that explored the exciting realms of our galactic neighbors ended its service after a relatively short period of operation. In view of those probes, which fell victim to the extreme conditions on the examined celestial bodies, or were brought to burn up deliberately in planetary atmospheres at the end of their missions, one could think that the life spans of the complex technical equipment are not particularly long – an assumption roundly disproven by NASA’s two Voyager space probes. The unmanned spacecraft left our earthly home back in the year 1977 and still pull their courses through the gigantic breadths of the universe. Which milestones have already been reached within the framework of the decades-long Voyager 2 mission, into which remote areas the spacecraft has advanced in the meantime and how the experts succeeded a few months ago in restoring the previously broken contact with Voyager 2, you can find out in our video today!

Credit: NASA, ESA, ESO, SpaceX, Wikipedia, Shutterstock, ...

#TheSimplySpaceEN

[mchristiansen]

Growing up in the 70's, I was a outer space geek. I followed what news I could get with zeal. I made sure I did things like mow the lawn, take out the trash, help around the house so I could make some money. My parents thought I was saving to get toys or what nots for someone my age, my brothers thought this was good because it took them out of doing "chores". The real reason I was saving my money was to order posters of the different missions, like the Voyager's, and of Mars and the Moon. My parents were a bit shocked when the packages were arriving to me! That Christmas they bought me my first telescope. I would spend hours outside at night, during the winter months, I had a 55 gallon barrel, I would burn wood in to keep warm. This brings back memories of those days, and knowing it is still transmitting is amazing! I am approaching 60 yrs. old, and still have not lost my curiosity of the cosmos and what's out there. My new telescope has wifi, so I can sit inside in the warmth, and give it commands and watch on my computer screen, and these videos are short, but very informative!!

[justintime]

I was born on the 19th of August 1977. Voyager was launched on the 20th in 1977 I will be 45 yo this year
and, it has taken my entire life for voyager to simply get out of our own little solar system. Think about everything you have ever done in your life, everything that you have learned, everything that you have experienced, and everything you are that makes you who you are! And this little machine has just crossed the Gate of its own backyard in relative terms. This is a perfect way to look at the size and vastness of space.

[stevetyrrell]

I was 16 when she was sent on her way. it's a thing I followed all my life since. I watched every discovery with interest. she is the oldest love of my life.

[jimfulton]

I was a college senior when they left the Earth. And after all of these decades, V1 & V2 are in better shape than me!

[tyharris]

It’s cool to know a smartphone has more tech than the voyager 1 & 2 yet the information we receive is priceless

[bingny]

The spacecraft is one of the two man-made wonders in the universe.

[henryparks]

It's AWESOME.
Sometimes I wish that I could be out where the Voyager is. It must be an amazing view.
It's amazing that you can still communicate with it after 42 years.

[ldchappell]

Even though Voyager 2 has been traveling 17 miles per second for the last 45 years it hasn't even traveled the distance of one light day yet. It's traveled 18 and a half light hours.
It will have traveled the distance of one light year in 17, 720 years.

[artfarty]

O shit… I hear he’s now calling himself Veeger II

[toddmcintosh]

I remember as an older Teenager when both probes were launched. The facts about the information about earth that voyager 1 carried was fascinating, and when it’s mission was completed, and it headed out into deep space the possibilities of discovery was intriguing, even though no more communication would be possible! It was kinda sad, however, when probe number 2’s mission was extended it was exciting, and now it’s finally on it’s way into the great unknown! I wonder what life, if any it might possibly encounter someday in the distant future? Very cool! I hope future generations will be inspired by these early unmanned explorations, and will benefit from the information they gathered, in planning future deep solar system and further galactic missions!

[malirabbit]

Live long and prosper, Voyager1 an 2 !! We will eventually miss y’all but will never forget y’all!

[alexwhitelaw]

I've followed the probe since I was a kid. All my life I've watched it's progress and it started before I was born

[alanwhare]

I am truly intregued by, anything having to do with space exploration!! The anticipation of what we can learn from deep space, is just captivating.

[markdagostino]

I am so glad that communication has been reestablished.

[The.Actual.Rooster]

This thing is literally 6 years older than I am and still barely out of the solar system. Solar systems pretty big damn :P

[TrevorNoremac]

The universe is so fascinating and so overwhelming at the same time.

[hammah]

We should keep in contact with Voyager too because believe it or not it’s a new mission way out there so we need to keep in contact with it as it makes new discoveries as old as it is good job guys

[jaygee]

It is amazing how many years the Voyagers have served

[peterwoodhouse]

Can you please also use centigrade, 99% of the world does.

[royschering]

Since the round trip time for communications with Voyager 2 is around 32 hours, they have to be very patient when waiting for command acknowledgement. Since the signal strength to/from Voyager 2 is dropping by 1/R^2, at some time they will need a bigger dish (or array of dishes) in Australia to send/receive the signals or have to slow the transmission rate to enable more time integration. Of course, Voyager 2's power RTG power supply is decaying. Its output is about 4 watts less each year, so Voyager 2's useful time is limited anyway.