What Lies Beyond the Edge of Our Solar System?

The Voyager space probes have gone further into the unknown than any other spacecraft. With both probes officially in interstellar space, what have we learned?

In 1965, a PhD student figured out that every 176 years the four planets in our solar system align in such a unique way that it is possible to use their gravitational forces to slingshot from one planet to the next.

This insight, that came to fruition using just a slide rule and simple computer programs, became part of an ambitious mission to send two probes and golden records out into space for a grand tour.

Enter: The Voyagers.

The Voyager probes are two obscure looking robots, weighing roughly 800 kilograms with giant arms and big ears, it took 1,500 engineers and scientists to bring these robotic explorers to life.

The Voyagers took some of the first detailed snapshots of planets and moons—revealing Io’s volcanism, close-up details of Saturn’s icy rings, and Neptune’s great dark spot.

And after traveling for more than 43 years, clocking in 18 billion kilometers traveled, the Voyagers are taking humanity into the next great beyond: interstellar space.

With the opportunity to visit Uranus and Neptune, the NASA engineers developed a mission within a mission, outfitting the probes with 11 different instruments, redundant systems, and autonomous controls.

Find out more about the Voyager mission, what we’ve learned so far, and the experts behind it all on this episode of Focal Point.

#NASA #Space #Interstellar #Voyagers #Galaxy #Seeker #FocalPoint #Science
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Read More:
Voyager Mission Reveals Unexpected Pressure at The Edge of The Solar System
“NASA astronomers have used data from the Voyager probes to measure the bustle of particles rippling at the very edge of our Solar System, and discovered the pressure in the distant borderlands of our star is higher than they expected.”

NASA's Voyager 2 Probe Enters Interstellar Space
“For the second time in history, a human-made object has reached the space between the stars. NASA's Voyager 2 probe now has exited the heliosphere - the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun.”

How NASA Will Prolong the Lives of the Voyager Probes, 11 Billion Miles From Earth
“Launched 42 years ago, the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes are now exploring the outer realms of our solar system. Sadly, the end of the mission is now firmly in sight, but NASA has a plan to keep the probes operational for as long as possible before their power finally runs out.”
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[themeatpopsicle]

You could have called this "The Journey of Voyager" and it would have been a fine title that hundreds of thousands would be happy to click upon

[tietie]

Very misleading title. They didn't "find" anything. The satellite just hit the interstellar medium they already knew was there.

[johnbones]

Surely the PhD student deserves to have his name mentioned. It's as if you were trying not to mention his name. What could he have done to be omitted like this?

[lyva]

"a PhD student"
How about you guys start giving credit with actual names.

[ivarbrouwer]

Nice video, but disappointing due to the clickbate title: there are no new facts that have not been published for some time.

[batmanarkham]

Finally, the voyager mission found "clickbait" at the edge of the solar system

[DawnAttridge]

Them: Able to receive images from over 6 billion miles.
Me: Can only get country music on the car radio.

[AlexKovalskyAtWork]

And what is really impressive is quality of that probe! Still working, still running!

[leinardesteves]

“A Phd student discovered this”

Me: **Looks at my term paper in shame**

[PlainKingboy]

I think this is amazing, it really captures the size of space compared to the size of our life span. She started in the program when she was young amd fresh out of college and now shes an ageable person now actually seeing practical stuff about the universe. Just wish there was an easier way to pass on her passion and knowledge to the younger generations

[thulx]

"What Lies Beyond the Edge of Our Solar System?"

*Shows the entire history of two Voyager spacecrafts*

[snea]

Okay but I will honestly cry when the mission is over-

[goldiebelle]

My grandmother worked on Voyager 1! Her signature is on it and everything. I'm in awe knowing something she worked on is somewhere in space.🇺🇸

[FRO.]

1960s engineer: my first job was working on a rocket!

2019 engineer: tech support how may I help you!

[jossylopes]

Michael Andrew Minovitch should have been awarded a Nobel prize in mathematics and physics, gravity assist Discovery and its equations are things taken for granted since back then till now.

[offplanet]

“very empty, very dark, and very cold...” i guess space is like my soul

[foxnebula]

that woman look like Smart version of Ellen Degeneres

[TheExoplanetsChannel]

It's not aliens, *_until it's aliens_*

[tyronealfonso]

“To everyone’s surprise, Voyager kept going.”

Seriously?

[jasonk]

boy I'm kinda glad the ETs will only know what earth was like in the 70s which was certainly a more peaceful time than 2019.