Voyager 2’s flyby of Uranus in January 1986 revealed that the planet’s magnetic field was unlike anything seen before.

What were Voyager 2’s greatest discoveries about our Solar System?

While both Voyagers visited Jupiter and Saturn, only Voyager 2 continued onwards to Uranus and Neptune, making it the sole spacecraft ever to study the ice giants up close.

‘Not dead worlds’: How Voyager 2’s discoveries at Uranus and Neptune changed planetary science forever

Triton’s orbit added another layer of surprise. Unlike most large moons, it circles Neptune in a retrograde direction, opposite to the planet’s rotation. 

What did Voyager 2 discover on Neptune’s moon Triton and why did it shock scientists?

It is a message of both science and hope, a statement that humanity once existed and sought to be known.

Did you know Voyager 2 carries a time capsule with Earth’s sounds, music and messages bound for the stars?

This historic photograph became the last visual record from Voyager 2, taken before its cameras were permanently switched off to save the probe’s dwindling power.

What did Voyager 2 capture in its last image before its cameras fell silent?

Millions of years ago, the solar system may have passed through a cold, dense region of space capable of reshaping Earth’s climate. A 2024 study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that the Sun and planets entered a compact interstellar gas cloud, part of the Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds, with particle densities more than 1,000 times higher than the solar system’s current environment. This encounter could have drastically compressed the heliosphere, the vast bubble of solar wind that normally shields the planets from interstellar radiation.&nbsp;Geological traces of the isotopes iron-60 and plutonium-244, found in Antarctic snow, deep-ocean sediments, Moon samples, and ice cores, suggest that matter from deep space reached Earth during this period. These isotopes are produced in supernova explosions and neutron star mergers, strengthening the case for a cosmic intrusion.<h2>The heliosphere’s role as Earth’s outermost shield</h2>&nbsp;The heliosphere is created by the constant outflow of charged particles from the Sun, stretching far beyond Pluto’s orbit and typically extending three times farther still. According to NASA, it acts as the solar system’s first line of defence against the interstellar medium (ISM), blocking a significant fraction of high-energy cosmic rays. Earth’s own magnetosphere then provides additional protection, preventing the erosion of the atmosphere and reducing the planet’s radiation exposure.&nbsp;Today, the solar system sits within the Local Bubble, a region about 1,000 light-years wide containing just 0.001 particles per cubic centimetre, far less than the galactic average of 0.1. The cold cloud encountered millions of years ago, however, may have contained more than 1,000 particles per cubic centimetre, overwhelming the heliosphere’s protective reach and allowing interstellar dust and energetic particles to enter the inner solar system largely unimpeded.&nbsp;<h2>Climate consequences and the long-term view</h2>&nbsp;If the heliosphere contracted within or even inside Earth’s orbit, our planet would have been directly exposed to denser interstellar material. Models suggest this could have altered atmospheric chemistry, depleted ozone in the mid-atmosphere, and triggered global cooling. Such conditions might have persisted for hundreds of years to over a million, influencing climate patterns and potentially shaping human evolution.&nbsp;As Boston University space physicist Merav Opher notes, this is the first quantitative evidence that the Sun’s interaction with an external object could have affected Earth’s climate. Once the solar system emerged from the cloud, the heliosphere would have expanded again, restoring its full protective range. Scientists estimate that another such encounter could occur within the next million years.

A study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that the Sun and planets entered a compact interstellar gas cloud, part of the Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds, with particle densities more than 1,000 times higher than the solar system’s current environment. 

Millions of years ago, the solar system may have passed through a cold, dense region of space capable of reshaping Earth’s climate. A 2024 study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that the Sun and planets entered a compact interstellar gas cloud, part of the Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds, with particle densities more than 1,000 times higher than the solar system’s current environment. This encounter could have drastically compressed the heliosphere, the vast bubble of solar wind that normally shields the planets from interstellar radiation. Geological traces of the isotopes iron-60 and plutonium-244, found in Antarctic snow, deep-ocean sediments, Moon samples, and ice cores, suggest that matter from deep space reached Earth during this period. These isotopes are produced in supernova explosions and neutron star mergers, strengthening the case for a cosmic intrusion. The heliosphere’s role as Earth’s outermost shield The heliosphere is created by the constant outflow of charged particles from the Sun, stretching far beyond Pluto’s orbit and typically extending three times farther still. According to NASA, it acts as the solar system’s first line of defence against the interstellar medium (ISM), blocking a significant fraction of high-energy cosmic rays. Earth’s own magnetosphere then provides additional protection, preventing the erosion of the atmosphere and reducing the planet’s radiation exposure. Today, the solar system sits within the Local Bubble, a region about 1,000 light-years wide containing just 0.001 particles per cubic centimetre, far less than the galactic average of 0.1. The cold cloud encountered millions of years ago, however, may have contained more than 1,000 particles per cubic centimetre, overwhelming the heliosphere’s protective reach and allowing interstellar dust and energetic particles to enter the inner solar system largely unimpeded. Climate consequences and the long-term view If the heliosphere contracted within or even inside Earth’s orbit, our planet would have been directly exposed to denser interstellar material. Models suggest this could have altered atmospheric chemistry, depleted ozone in the mid-atmosphere, and triggered global cooling. Such conditions might have persisted for hundreds of years to over a million, influencing climate patterns and potentially shaping human evolution. As Boston University space physicist Merav Opher notes, this is the first quantitative evidence that the Sun’s interaction with an external object could have affected Earth’s climate. Once the solar system emerged from the cloud, the heliosphere would have expanded again, restoring its full protective range. Scientists estimate that another such encounter could occur within the next million years.

A study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that the Sun and planets entered a compact interstellar gas cloud, part of the Local Ribbon of Cold Clouds, with particle densities more than 1,000 times higher than the solar system’s current environment.&nbsp;

Earth’s climate was shaped for millions of years by an interstellar cloud? Here’s what scientists have to say

NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are undergoing power-saving measures, shutting down instruments to extend their journey into interstellar space and continue sending valuable data back to Earth.

NASA powers down Voyager, humanity's deepest explorer

Uranus is not what astronomers have thought it to be for the last several years. Our initial perception of the planet is based on data collected by Voyager 2. In 1986, when the mission flew past Uranus, it observed its magnetic field which appeared to be messy, off-centre and unusual.

This was very different from everything else that has been observed in the solar system. Astronomers have been trying to dive into the mysterious past of the planet and working to understand what makes its magnetic field such a hot mess.

However, a study has now raised questions over everything Voyager beamed back about Uranus. Space plasma physicist Jamie Jasinski of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology says that the planet might not have an extreme magnetospheric environment as believed.

Jasinski and his team have discovered that at the time Voyager 2 flew by Uranus, it was likely battling intense solar activity, which was messing with the planet.&nbsp;

He told ScienceAlert that he looked at the solar wind data at Uranus and "saw that Voyager 2 measured a dramatic increase in the solar wind dynamic pressure just before the flyby".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/experts-stumble-upon-a-crime-scene-in-space-who-committed-it-and-when-775115">Experts stumble upon a crime scene in space. Who committed it and when?</a>

"I realised that the magnetosphere must have been squashed to 20 per cent of its volume just before the flyby happened, which would have affected the discoveries we made with Voyager 2!," Jasinski said.

<h2>Voyager 2 mission and its data</h2>

Scientists say that since Uranus is extremely far away, it has been hard to learn about it. Voyager 2's measurements are the best and the closest observations of the planet to date. But solar system is not a static place and things are at the mercy of the vagaries of the space weather at a certain time.&nbsp;

Uranian magnetosphere had intense radiation belts and much less plasma than was expected, based on data about the other planets.

Jasinski, who earlier worked on NASA's MESSENGER mission, which studied the planet Mercury, observed that intense solar activity sometimes "completely eroded the entire magnetic field". This led him to wonder if the same could be the case with Uranus.

"The Voyager 2 flyby of Uranus lasted just five days, so I thought we may have observed Uranus at just the wrong time," he said.

The researchers again studied Voyager 2's data and found that the dynamic solar wind pressure had increased a week before the flyby.&nbsp;

The observations led the team to conclude that if the solar wind was flowing at its normal rate, then Uranus's magnetic field would be similar to the magnetic fields of the other gas giants, such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune.

The latest discovery means that the assumption that the interior of Uranus,&nbsp;where the magnetic field is generated, was unique in the Solar System, might be flawed.&nbsp;

Uranus is not what astronomers have thought it to be for the last several years. Our initial perception of the planet is based on data collected by Voyager 2. In 1986, when the mission flew past Uranus, it observed its magnetic field which appeared to be messy, off-centre and unusual.

Uranus is not what astronomers have thought it to be for the last several years. Our initial perception of the planet is based on data collected by Voyager 2. In 1986, when the mission flew past Uranus, it observed its magnetic field which appeared to be messy, off-centre and unusual. This was very different from everything else that has been observed in the solar system. Astronomers have been trying to dive into the mysterious past of the planet and working to understand what makes its magnetic field such a hot mess. However, a study has now raised questions over everything Voyager beamed back about Uranus. Space plasma physicist Jamie Jasinski of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology says that the planet might not have an extreme magnetospheric environment as believed. Jasinski and his team have discovered that at the time Voyager 2 flew by Uranus, it was likely battling intense solar activity, which was messing with the planet. He told ScienceAlert that he looked at the solar wind data at Uranus and "saw that Voyager 2 measured a dramatic increase in the solar wind dynamic pressure just before the flyby". Also Read: Experts stumble upon a crime scene in space. Who committed it and when? "I realised that the magnetosphere must have been squashed to 20 per cent of its volume just before the flyby happened, which would have affected the discoveries we made with Voyager 2!," Jasinski said. Voyager 2 mission and its data Scientists say that since Uranus is extremely far away, it has been hard to learn about it. Voyager 2's measurements are the best and the closest observations of the planet to date. But solar system is not a static place and things are at the mercy of the vagaries of the space weather at a certain time. Uranian magnetosphere had intense radiation belts and much less plasma than was expected, based on data about the other planets. Jasinski, who earlier worked on NASA's MESSENGER mission, which studied the planet Mercury, observed that intense solar activity sometimes "completely eroded the entire magnetic field". This led him to wonder if the same could be the case with Uranus. "The Voyager 2 flyby of Uranus lasted just five days, so I thought we may have observed Uranus at just the wrong time," he said. The researchers again studied Voyager 2's data and found that the dynamic solar wind pressure had increased a week before the flyby. The observations led the team to conclude that if the solar wind was flowing at its normal rate, then Uranus's magnetic field would be similar to the magnetic fields of the other gas giants, such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. The latest discovery means that the assumption that the interior of Uranus, where the magnetic field is generated, was unique in the Solar System, might be flawed.

Uranus not a hot mess: A mistimed encounter between Voyager 2 in 1986 messed up data

Voyager 1 spacecraft is phoning home once again while remaining pointed at Earth, thanks to a clever trick carried out by NASA scientists. It is flying through interstellar space at the moment after being launched in 1977. It developed thruster issues due to which it was unable to stay pointed at Earth when calling home.

So to continue to remain connected with Earth, it needed to switch to a different thruster set. However, it was tricky since Voyager 1 is 47 years old and any sudden changes could damage the spacecraft.

So NASA had to think out of the box.&nbsp;

"All the decisions we will have to make going forward are going to require a lot more analysis and caution than they once did," Suzanne Dodd, Voyager's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that manages the mission, said in a statement on Tuesday (Sep&nbsp;10).

The fuel tubes for their thrusters have been prone to clogging for more than 20 years. The Voyager has three thruster branches, two attitude branches designed for orientation, and one trajectory correction branch made for pathway changes in space.

In 2002, the first attitude propulsion branch started to clog. So it switched to the second branch, NASA officials said in the statement. However, the second branch began also started showing signs of clogging in 2018, so Voyager 1's orientation manoeuvres switched to the trajectory correction branch. &nbsp;

Now the problem being faced was even this branch started to clog up, much worse than the attitude branches. This JPL decides to go back to the attitude propulsion system. However, this time the challenge was bigger as the spacecraft has a lot less power than in 2002.&nbsp;

Currently, Voyager 1 is running only on essential systems, and some of its heaters have been turned off. This meant that due to diminished radiant heat, &nbsp;Voyager 1's dormant attitude propulsion thruster branch was quite cold and risked damage if turned on.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mega-collision-with-another-galaxy-9-billion-years-ago-created-milky-way-black-hole-758056">Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole</a>

So, JPL engineers had an idea - switch on one of the heaters for an hour. It worked and one of the attitude thruster branches successfully reoriented Voyager 1 towards Earth on August 27 for the first time in six years.

In June, a data transmission problem that had been affecting the spacecraft for months was also fixed.

<h2>Voyager 1 and Voyager 2</h2>

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were sent to space more than 47 years ago to study the distant solar system. They flew by by four largest outer solar system planets by 1989 and are now in interstellar space, where the sun's gravity or particles cannot reach. They left the solar system in the early 2010s.

Voyager 1 spacecraft is phoning home once again while remaining pointed at Earth, thanks to a clever trick carried out by NASA scientists. It is flying through interstellar space at the moment after being launched in 1977.

Voyager 1 spacecraft is phoning home once again while remaining pointed at Earth, thanks to a clever trick carried out by NASA scientists. It is flying through interstellar space at the moment after being launched in 1977. It developed thruster issues due to which it was unable to stay pointed at Earth when calling home. So to continue to remain connected with Earth, it needed to switch to a different thruster set. However, it was tricky since Voyager 1 is 47 years old and any sudden changes could damage the spacecraft. So NASA had to think out of the box. "All the decisions we will have to make going forward are going to require a lot more analysis and caution than they once did," Suzanne Dodd, Voyager's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that manages the mission, said in a statement on Tuesday (Sep 10). The fuel tubes for their thrusters have been prone to clogging for more than 20 years. The Voyager has three thruster branches, two attitude branches designed for orientation, and one trajectory correction branch made for pathway changes in space. In 2002, the first attitude propulsion branch started to clog. So it switched to the second branch, NASA officials said in the statement. However, the second branch began also started showing signs of clogging in 2018, so Voyager 1's orientation manoeuvres switched to the trajectory correction branch. Now the problem being faced was even this branch started to clog up, much worse than the attitude branches. This JPL decides to go back to the attitude propulsion system. However, this time the challenge was bigger as the spacecraft has a lot less power than in 2002. Currently, Voyager 1 is running only on essential systems, and some of its heaters have been turned off. This meant that due to diminished radiant heat, Voyager 1's dormant attitude propulsion thruster branch was quite cold and risked damage if turned on. Also Read: Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole So, JPL engineers had an idea - switch on one of the heaters for an hour. It worked and one of the attitude thruster branches successfully reoriented Voyager 1 towards Earth on August 27 for the first time in six years. In June, a data transmission problem that had been affecting the spacecraft for months was also fixed. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were sent to space more than 47 years ago to study the distant solar system. They flew by by four largest outer solar system planets by 1989 and are now in interstellar space, where the sun's gravity or particles cannot reach. They left the solar system in the early 2010s.

NASA fixes another problem on Voyager 1 as it moves through interstellar space

For the first time since November, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is returning data about the health and status of its onboard engineering systems. Voyager 1 stopped sending readable science and engineering data back to earth on Nov. 14, 2023. The probe and its twin, Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft to ever fly in interstellar space.

NASA restores contact with Voyager 1 after months of silence

NASA meanwhile has successfully averted a big problem as its Engineers had sent a wrong signal to Voyager 2 and lost contact for nearly about 10 days. But the US space agency has said that it has successfully reconnected its space probe after a brief scare of unexplored.

NASA succeeds in making contact with Voyager 2 after 10 days

Space agency NASA has been able to establish complete contact with Voyager 2 probe, which was lost a few days back, months before than expected. 
 
The space agency had sent a wrong command to the spacecraft in July which changed its position and severed its contact. It was sent on an exploration of space in 1977. 
 
On Tuesday, a signal was picked up, however, thanks to an "interstellar shout", which is a powerful instruction, its antenna was positioned back facing Earth. 
 
Originally, NASA had pinned hopes on Voyager 2 probe resetting itself in October. The mission controllers took 37 hours to figure out if the interstellar command sent by them had worked since Voyager 2 was almost billions of miles away from Earth.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/one-wrong-command-and-nasas-voyager-2-goes-dark-in-intersteller-space-621337">One wrong command and NASA's Voyager 2 goes dark in interstellar space</a>

Staff used the "highest-power transmitter" to send signals to the spacecraft and timed it to be sent during "the best conditions" so that the antenna gets positioned as per the command, said Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd to AFP. 
 
After the probe lost the communications, it was not able to send back data to Nasa's Deep Space Network and receive commands. However, the space agency confirmed on August 4 that the data was received by the spacecraft and it was normally operating. 
 
NASA has said that the spacecraft, which is laden with science instruments, should stay on its planned trajectory in the universe.

<h2>Search for Voyager 2</h2>

The space agency on Monday (July 31) said that its huge dish in Canberra, the capital of Australia, was making efforts to detect any stray signals from Voyager 2. This happened when NASA was able to hear the first faint "heartbeat" signal. 
 
The area of Voyager 2 was being bombarded by the antenna with the correct command, hoping to establish contact somehow, said NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which looks after the Voyager missions. 
 
The probe has been programmed for resetting its position multiple times every year to ensure that its antenna is pointing at Earth. The next reset will take place on October 15, on which NASA was resting its hopes if all other attempts had failed.

WATCH |&nbsp;NASA loses contact with Voyager-2, spacecraft is travelling in interstellar space | WION

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Voyager 2, along with its twin Voyager 1, are the only spacecraft which are operating outside the heliosphere, which is a protective bubble of magnetic fields and particles, generated by the Sun. They both went into interstellar space in 2018 and 2012, respectively. 
 
The probes have been designed in a way that it can take advantage of a rare alignment of outer planets, which takes place every 176 years to explore Jupiter and Saturn. 
 
You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Space agency NASA has been able to establish complete contact with Voyager 2 probe, which was lost a few days back, months before than expected. The space agency had sent a wrong command to the spacecraft in July which changed its position and severed its contact.

Space agency NASA has been able to establish complete contact with Voyager 2 probe, which was lost a few days back, months before than expected. The space agency had sent a wrong command to the spacecraft in July which changed its position and severed its contact. It was sent on an exploration of space in 1977. On Tuesday, a signal was picked up, however, thanks to an "interstellar shout", which is a powerful instruction, its antenna was positioned back facing Earth. Originally, NASA had pinned hopes on Voyager 2 probe resetting itself in October. The mission controllers took 37 hours to figure out if the interstellar command sent by them had worked since Voyager 2 was almost billions of miles away from Earth. ALSO READ | One wrong command and NASA's Voyager 2 goes dark in interstellar space Staff used the "highest-power transmitter" to send signals to the spacecraft and timed it to be sent during "the best conditions" so that the antenna gets positioned as per the command, said Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd to AFP. After the probe lost the communications, it was not able to send back data to Nasa's Deep Space Network and receive commands. However, the space agency confirmed on August 4 that the data was received by the spacecraft and it was normally operating. NASA has said that the spacecraft, which is laden with science instruments, should stay on its planned trajectory in the universe. Search for Voyager 2 The space agency on Monday (July 31) said that its huge dish in Canberra, the capital of Australia, was making efforts to detect any stray signals from Voyager 2. This happened when NASA was able to hear the first faint "heartbeat" signal. The area of Voyager 2 was being bombarded by the antenna with the correct command, hoping to establish contact somehow, said NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which looks after the Voyager missions. The probe has been programmed for resetting its position multiple times every year to ensure that its antenna is pointing at Earth. The next reset will take place on October 15, on which NASA was resting its hopes if all other attempts had failed. WATCH | NASA loses contact with Voyager-2, spacecraft is travelling in interstellar space | WION Voyager 2, along with its twin Voyager 1, are the only spacecraft which are operating outside the heliosphere, which is a protective bubble of magnetic fields and particles, generated by the Sun. They both went into interstellar space in 2018 and 2012, respectively. The probes have been designed in a way that it can take advantage of a rare alignment of outer planets, which takes place every 176 years to explore Jupiter and Saturn. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA establishes full contact with Voyager 2 probe months earlier than expected

Amidst fears that the Voyager 2 is lost forever, NASA, after days of nerve-wracking silence, has finally heard a "heartbeat signal" from the almost five-decades-old space probe.

Just two weeks back, flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command that tilted&nbsp;the spacecraft's antenna away from the Earth and severed contact. This situation, as per the news agency AFP, was not expected to be resolved until the spacecraft conducted an automated re-orientation manoeuvre on October 15.&nbsp;

<h2>Everything can change in a "heartbeat"</h2>

As the space agency actively searched for any stray signals from Voyager 2, NASA's Deep Space Network, which is an international array of giant radio antennas, picked up a "heartbeat signal," that signals that the 46-year-old spacecraft is operating and is well, project manager Suzanne Dodd told AFP.

The last-ditch effort to establish contact "was successful in that we see the 'heartbeat' signal from the spacecraft," said Dodd, adding "So we know the spacecraft is alive and operating. This buoyed our spirits."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/one-wrong-command-and-nasas-voyager-2-goes-dark-in-intersteller-space-621337">One wrong command and NASA's Voyager 2 goes dark in interstellar space</a>

She said that the team is "now generating a new command to attempt to point the spacecraft antenna towards Earth."

However, as per her,&nbsp;there is only a "low probability" it will work, but given that the automated re-orientation manoeuvre is months away, the NASA team will continue its attempts to rectify the situation.

<h2>Voyager 2 and human history</h2>

The probe was launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets and serve as a beacon of humanity to life "out there". Its current position, as per AFP, is "well beyond our solar system" at more than 12.3 billion miles or 19.9 kilometres from Earth.

Before leaving our solar system, Voyager 2 explored Jupiter and Saturn and also achieved the feat of becoming the only spacecraft (so far) to visit Uranus and Neptune.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-mysterious-planet-may-be-lurking-around-in-our-solar-system-621243">A mysterious planet may be lurking around in our solar system</a>

The spacecraft and its predecessor, the Voyager 1 — which was humankind's first spacecraft to enter the interstellar medium and is currently some 15 billion miles from Earth — carry "Golden Records", which convey humanity's story to the extraterrestrial world.

Both aircraft carry 12-inch, gold-plated copper disks which have on them encoded images of life on Earth, and music and sounds that can be played using an included stylus.&nbsp;

Alongside this, they carry a map of our solar system, a piece of uranium that serves as a radioactive clock allowing recipients to date the spaceship's launch, and symbolic instructions that convey how to play the record.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amidst fears that the Voyager 2 is lost forever, NASA, after days of nerve-wracking silence, has finally heard a "heartbeat signal" from the almost five-decades-old space probe.

Amidst fears that the Voyager 2 is lost forever, NASA, after days of nerve-wracking silence, has finally heard a "heartbeat signal" from the almost five-decades-old space probe. Just two weeks back, flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command that tilted the spacecraft's antenna away from the Earth and severed contact. This situation, as per the news agency AFP, was not expected to be resolved until the spacecraft conducted an automated re-orientation manoeuvre on October 15. Everything can change in a "heartbeat" As the space agency actively searched for any stray signals from Voyager 2, NASA's Deep Space Network, which is an international array of giant radio antennas, picked up a "heartbeat signal," that signals that the 46-year-old spacecraft is operating and is well, project manager Suzanne Dodd told AFP. The last-ditch effort to establish contact "was successful in that we see the 'heartbeat' signal from the spacecraft," said Dodd, adding "So we know the spacecraft is alive and operating. This buoyed our spirits." Also read | One wrong command and NASA's Voyager 2 goes dark in interstellar space She said that the team is "now generating a new command to attempt to point the spacecraft antenna towards Earth." However, as per her, there is only a "low probability" it will work, but given that the automated re-orientation manoeuvre is months away, the NASA team will continue its attempts to rectify the situation. Voyager 2 and human history The probe was launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets and serve as a beacon of humanity to life "out there". Its current position, as per AFP, is "well beyond our solar system" at more than 12.3 billion miles or 19.9 kilometres from Earth. Before leaving our solar system, Voyager 2 explored Jupiter and Saturn and also achieved the feat of becoming the only spacecraft (so far) to visit Uranus and Neptune. Also read | A mysterious planet may be lurking around in our solar system The spacecraft and its predecessor, the Voyager 1 — which was humankind's first spacecraft to enter the interstellar medium and is currently some 15 billion miles from Earth — carry "Golden Records", which convey humanity's story to the extraterrestrial world. Both aircraft carry 12-inch, gold-plated copper disks which have on them encoded images of life on Earth, and music and sounds that can be played using an included stylus. Alongside this, they carry a map of our solar system, a piece of uranium that serves as a radioactive clock allowing recipients to date the spaceship's launch, and symbolic instructions that convey how to play the record. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After nerve-wracking silence, NASA finally hears 'heartbeat' of Voyager 2

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is searching for its missing Voyager 2 spacecraft after its flight controllers on Earth accidentally sent out a wrong command more than a week ago.

The command prompted the Voyager to shift its communication signal a mere 2 per cent, which ended up cutting off the communications.&nbsp;

"A series of planned commands sent to NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 21 inadvertently caused the antenna to point 2 degrees away from Earth. As a result, Voyager 2 is currently unable to receive commands or transmit data back to Earth," Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA's lab that operates the spacecraft, said in a statement Friday (July 28).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-practicing-on-rum-rocks-ahead-of-mars-space-mission-620767">Also read:&nbsp;NASA practising on Rum rocks ahead of Mars space mission</a>

NASA said Monday its huge antenna in Canberra was actively searching for any stray signals that might come from Voyager 2. The Guardian reported that it takes more than 18 hours for a signal to travel from Voyager 2 to Earth, given it is located more than 19bn km away from our home planet.

<h2>What is NASA doing to recover the lost signals?</h2>

The US space agency has said it will bombard Voyager 2’s vicinity with the correct command so that it hits the mark if the signal manages to reach the spacecraft.&nbsp;

The signals will be sent from Canberra’s antenna in the coming weeks, said Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

<h2>NASA is hopeful.&nbsp;Here is why</h2>

JPL reports that despite a temporary communication setback, Voyager 2 has a design that allows it to reset its orientation multiple times a year to realign its antenna with Earth. The next reset on October 15 is expected to restore communication.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft&nbsp;

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“The mission team expects Voyager 2 to remain on its planned trajectory during the quiet period,” the statement from JPL added.

<h2>More about Voyager 2</h2>

Launched on August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 is currently positioned more than 19.9 billion kilometres from Earth, residing in interstellar space—the area between our Sun's heliosphere and the astrospheres of other stars.

NASA's Voyager 2 holds the distinction of being the second spacecraft to venture into space between stars. It achieved this feat on December 10, 2018, joining its twin, Voyager 1, as the only human-made objects to explore the space between stars.

Remarkably, Voyager 1, located nearly 24bn km away from Earth, continues to operate flawlessly without any issues.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is searching for its missing Voyager 2 spacecraft after its flight controllers on Earth accidentally sent out a wrong command more than a week ago.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is searching for its missing Voyager 2 spacecraft after its flight controllers on Earth accidentally sent out a wrong command more than a week ago. The command prompted the Voyager to shift its communication signal a mere 2 per cent, which ended up cutting off the communications. "A series of planned commands sent to NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 21 inadvertently caused the antenna to point 2 degrees away from Earth. As a result, Voyager 2 is currently unable to receive commands or transmit data back to Earth," Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA's lab that operates the spacecraft, said in a statement Friday (July 28). Also read: NASA practising on Rum rocks ahead of Mars space mission NASA said Monday its huge antenna in Canberra was actively searching for any stray signals that might come from Voyager 2. The Guardian reported that it takes more than 18 hours for a signal to travel from Voyager 2 to Earth, given it is located more than 19bn km away from our home planet. What is NASA doing to recover the lost signals? The US space agency has said it will bombard Voyager 2’s vicinity with the correct command so that it hits the mark if the signal manages to reach the spacecraft. The signals will be sent from Canberra’s antenna in the coming weeks, said Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA is hopeful. Here is why JPL reports that despite a temporary communication setback, Voyager 2 has a design that allows it to reset its orientation multiple times a year to realign its antenna with Earth. The next reset on October 15 is expected to restore communication. Watch: NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft × “The mission team expects Voyager 2 to remain on its planned trajectory during the quiet period,” the statement from JPL added. More about Voyager 2 Launched on August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 is currently positioned more than 19.9 billion kilometres from Earth, residing in interstellar space—the area between our Sun's heliosphere and the astrospheres of other stars. NASA's Voyager 2 holds the distinction of being the second spacecraft to venture into space between stars. It achieved this feat on December 10, 2018, joining its twin, Voyager 1, as the only human-made objects to explore the space between stars. Remarkably, Voyager 1, located nearly 24bn km away from Earth, continues to operate flawlessly without any issues. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

One wrong command and NASA's Voyager 2 goes dark in interstellar space

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft departed Earth over 45 years ago on a mission to the outer planets and beyond. Even now, the adventure is still going on. On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2, the first of two spacecraft involved in the mission, was launched. It took use of a unique planetary alignment to use one planet's gravity to drive itself to another. Voyager 2 continued the Voyager mission's exploration of Uranus and Neptune whereas the original Voyager mission was limited to Jupiter and Saturn. On September 5 of the same year, Voyager 1 was launched into space.

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The two spacecraft are equipped with cutting-edge tools for the in-depth study of distant worlds. Both of them are still sending data as they leave the solar system and enter interstellar space.&nbsp;

When mission designers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory realised that the next alignment of the outer planets, a rare occurrence that only happens once every 175 years, would take place in the late 1970s, they began planning the Voyager mission. Technology at the time allowed for the utilisation of this alignment to send a spacecraft via Jupiter, utilise Saturn's gravity to visit Saturn and then repeat the process to send another spacecraft by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The first spacecraft to leave the earth, Voyager 2, was launched from Launch Complex 21 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (formerly the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station) in Florida on a Titan IIIE-Centaur rocket. Despite the fact that Voyager 1 was launched two weeks later, it reached Jupiter four months earlier than Voyager 2 thanks to a quicker trajectory.&nbsp;

NASA engineers began preparing more than 45 years ago for the potential that an extraterrestrial civilization could discover the spacecraft. Similar to Voyager 1, Voyager 2 is equipped with a gold-plated record that holds data about Earth as well as recordings of sounds, music, and greetings in 55 different languages. The record's playback instructions were also added by the engineers.

(with inputs from agencies)

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft departed Earth over 45 years ago on a mission to the outer planets and beyond. Even now, the adventure is still going on. On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2, the first of two spacecraft involved in the mission, was launched.

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft departed Earth over 45 years ago on a mission to the outer planets and beyond. Even now, the adventure is still going on. On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2, the first of two spacecraft involved in the mission, was launched. It took use of a unique planetary alignment to use one planet's gravity to drive itself to another. Voyager 2 continued the Voyager mission's exploration of Uranus and Neptune whereas the original Voyager mission was limited to Jupiter and Saturn. On September 5 of the same year, Voyager 1 was launched into space. × The two spacecraft are equipped with cutting-edge tools for the in-depth study of distant worlds. Both of them are still sending data as they leave the solar system and enter interstellar space. When mission designers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory realised that the next alignment of the outer planets, a rare occurrence that only happens once every 175 years, would take place in the late 1970s, they began planning the Voyager mission. Technology at the time allowed for the utilisation of this alignment to send a spacecraft via Jupiter, utilise Saturn's gravity to visit Saturn and then repeat the process to send another spacecraft by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The first spacecraft to leave the earth, Voyager 2, was launched from Launch Complex 21 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (formerly the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station) in Florida on a Titan IIIE-Centaur rocket. Despite the fact that Voyager 1 was launched two weeks later, it reached Jupiter four months earlier than Voyager 2 thanks to a quicker trajectory. NASA engineers began preparing more than 45 years ago for the potential that an extraterrestrial civilization could discover the spacecraft. Similar to Voyager 1, Voyager 2 is equipped with a gold-plated record that holds data about Earth as well as recordings of sounds, music, and greetings in 55 different languages. The record's playback instructions were also added by the engineers. (with inputs from agencies)

Watch: 45 years in space, NASA’s Voyager 2 continues its interstellar journey

Voyager spacecrafts have travelled further into space than any made-made space vehicle has ever gone. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977, were meant to last just five years. But decades on, the spacecrafts have continued on their path sending back invaluable data never before obtained.

The spacecrafts are humankind's imprint on the space. The spacecrafts are so far away from Earth it takes 20 light hours and 33 minutes for a signal to travel from Voyager-1 to Earth. In case of Voyager 2, a signal takes 18 light hours to reach Earth. These spacecrafts are 23.3 billion kilometres from Earth.

These spacecrafts carrying out such a long journey is in itself a wonder and a thing to be proud of as a human. But the arduous and still continuing journey has begun to take its toll it seems. NASA has been gradually turning off equipments aboard both the spacecrafts.

Both of these probes are equipped with television cameras, infrared and ultraviolet sensors, magnetometers, plasma detectors, and cosmic-ray and charged-particle sensors. But 44 years on, the need to conserve energy in order to transmit data has assumed great priority.

NASA has hence been gradually switching of instruments one by one. It has been decades since NASA shut down cameras on the probes. And though it feels sad it appears that NASA would continue shutting down more instruments.

Though it is not certain, will there be a time when we would cut all contact with both spacecrafts? The Voyagers will continue their journey into nothingness of space even after that. They will bear testimony of human ingenuity as they would chart lonely path in the deep expanse.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Voyager spacecrafts have travelled further into space than any made-made space vehicle has ever gone. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977, were meant to last just five years.

Voyager spacecrafts have travelled further into space than any made-made space vehicle has ever gone. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977, were meant to last just five years. But decades on, the spacecrafts have continued on their path sending back invaluable data never before obtained. The spacecrafts are humankind's imprint on the space. The spacecrafts are so far away from Earth it takes 20 light hours and 33 minutes for a signal to travel from Voyager-1 to Earth. In case of Voyager 2, a signal takes 18 light hours to reach Earth. These spacecrafts are 23.3 billion kilometres from Earth. These spacecrafts carrying out such a long journey is in itself a wonder and a thing to be proud of as a human. But the arduous and still continuing journey has begun to take its toll it seems. NASA has been gradually turning off equipments aboard both the spacecrafts. Both of these probes are equipped with television cameras, infrared and ultraviolet sensors, magnetometers, plasma detectors, and cosmic-ray and charged-particle sensors. But 44 years on, the need to conserve energy in order to transmit data has assumed great priority. NASA has hence been gradually switching of instruments one by one. It has been decades since NASA shut down cameras on the probes. And though it feels sad it appears that NASA would continue shutting down more instruments. Though it is not certain, will there be a time when we would cut all contact with both spacecrafts? The Voyagers will continue their journey into nothingness of space even after that. They will bear testimony of human ingenuity as they would chart lonely path in the deep expanse. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA to gradually shut Voyager probes as they drift away

Forty-five years since its launch, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has been continuing its journey far beyond our solar system.

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 exited our solar system in 12 years and entered interstellar space in 2012.

Despite its advanced age and 14.5-billion-mile distance (23.3 billion kilometres) from Earth, the probe continues to send back more scientific data as it pushes forward to uncover the vast unknowns of the galaxy.

However, new data sent by the Voyager 1 has perplexed the NASA engineers of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

On Wednesday, NASA said that while the probe is still operating properly, readouts from its attitude articulation and control system (AACS) didn’t match the spacecraft's movements and orientation, suggesting the craft is confused about its location in space.

The AACS is essential for Voyager as it ensures that the spacecraft’s high-gain antenna remains pointed at Earth so that can send data back to NASA.

"A mystery like this is sort of par for the course at this stage of the Voyager mission," Suzanne Dodd, a project manager for&nbsp;Voyager 1 and 2&nbsp;at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a&nbsp;statement.

"The spacecraft are both almost 45 years old, which is far beyond what the mission planners anticipated," NASA said, adding that Voyager 1's twin, the Voyager 2 probe, is behaving normally.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-has-identified-something-weird-happening-to-the-universe-480678" hreflang="en">NASA has identified 'something weird' happening to the universe</a>

NASA said that Voyager 1's AACS is sending randomly generated data that does not "reflect what's actually happening onboard."

Due to Voyager's interstellar location, it takes light 20 hours and 33 minutes to travel one way, so the call and response of one message between NASA and Voyager takes two days.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-spots-billions-year-old-sombrero-galaxy-take-a-look-479191" hreflang="en">NASA's Hubble Space Telescope spots billions year old ‘Sombrero Galaxy’. Take a look!</a>

So far, NASA’s engineering team found that the spacecraft's antenna was aligned — it is receiving and executing commands from NASA and sending data back to Earth—even if system data suggests otherwise.

"Until the nature of the issue is better understood, the team cannot anticipate whether this might affect how long the spacecraft can collect and transmit science data," according to a NASA release.

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Forty-five years since its launch, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has been continuing its journey far beyond our solar system. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 exited our solar system in 12 years and entered interstellar space in 2012.

Forty-five years since its launch, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has been continuing its journey far beyond our solar system. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 exited our solar system in 12 years and entered interstellar space in 2012. Despite its advanced age and 14.5-billion-mile distance (23.3 billion kilometres) from Earth, the probe continues to send back more scientific data as it pushes forward to uncover the vast unknowns of the galaxy. However, new data sent by the Voyager 1 has perplexed the NASA engineers of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). On Wednesday, NASA said that while the probe is still operating properly, readouts from its attitude articulation and control system (AACS) didn’t match the spacecraft's movements and orientation, suggesting the craft is confused about its location in space. The AACS is essential for Voyager as it ensures that the spacecraft’s high-gain antenna remains pointed at Earth so that can send data back to NASA. "A mystery like this is sort of par for the course at this stage of the Voyager mission," Suzanne Dodd, a project manager for Voyager 1 and 2 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. "The spacecraft are both almost 45 years old, which is far beyond what the mission planners anticipated," NASA said, adding that Voyager 1's twin, the Voyager 2 probe, is behaving normally. Also read | NASA has identified 'something weird' happening to the universe NASA said that Voyager 1's AACS is sending randomly generated data that does not "reflect what's actually happening onboard." Due to Voyager's interstellar location, it takes light 20 hours and 33 minutes to travel one way, so the call and response of one message between NASA and Voyager takes two days. Also read | NASA's Hubble Space Telescope spots billions year old ‘Sombrero Galaxy’. Take a look! So far, NASA’s engineering team found that the spacecraft's antenna was aligned — it is receiving and executing commands from NASA and sending data back to Earth—even if system data suggests otherwise. "Until the nature of the issue is better understood, the team cannot anticipate whether this might affect how long the spacecraft can collect and transmit science data," according to a NASA release. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA’s Voyager 1 sending weird signals from beyond solar system, engineers perplexed

A probe launched by NASA four days after Elvis died has delivered a treasure trove of data from beyond the "solar bubble" that envelops Earth and our neighbouring planets, scientists reported Monday.

But for every mystery Voyager 2 has solved about the solar winds, magnetic fields and cosmic rays that buffet the boundary between interstellar space and the Sun's sphere of influence, a new one has cropped up.

Voyager 2 left Earth's orbit in 1977 a month before its twin Voyager 1, but took seven years longer to reach the heliosphere's outer limit some 18 billion kilometres (more than 11 billion miles) away.&nbsp;

Shaped something like a windsock in a stiff breeze, the heliosphere is formed by the Sun's magnetic field and solar winds that can reach speeds of three million kilometres per hour. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It can be compared to a cosmic supertanker ploughing through space, said Edward Stone, a professor at the California Institute of Technology and lead author of one of five articles published in Nature Astronomy.&nbsp;

"As it moves through the interstellar medium" -- the vast expanses of space between stellar fiefdoms -- "there's a wave in front, just as with the bow of a ship," Stone told journalists by phone.

Scientists hoped to answer a number of questions by comparing data sent back by the two probes, which pierced the Sun's protective bubble at different angles and locations.&nbsp;

Particle 'leakage'

"We didn't have any good quantitative data of how big this bubble is that the Sun creates around itself with supersonic solar wind and ionised plasma speeding away in all directions," Stone said.&nbsp;

Voyager 2 confirmed, for example, the existence of a "magnetic barrier" at the outer edge of the heliosphere that had been predicted by theory and observed by Voyager 1.

"But contrary to all expectations and predictions, the magnetic field direction did not change when Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause," Leonard Burlaga, a scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and lead researcher for one of the studies, told AFP.&nbsp;

The so-called heliopause is the relatively thin contact boundary where solar wind of charged particles and interstellar wind collide. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists were also surprised that it took 80 days for Voyager 2 to cross this magnetic barrier, while its sister probe did so in less than a day.

And then there's the leakage enigma.

As Voyager 1 crossed the heliosphere threshold, it detected particles from outer space -- notably cosmic rays -- racing the other way.&nbsp;

"On Voyager 2, it was just the opposite," said Stone. "Once we left the heliosphere, we continued to see particles leaking from the inside out."&nbsp;

In at least one case, it was a similarity between the two missions that was perplexing.

Johnny B. Goode

"This is very strange," said Tom Krimigis, a scientist in the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University and senior author of a study reporting on measurements of charged particles.

"One crossing (of the heliopause) occurred at the solar minimum when solar activity is the least, and the other at the solar maximum," he told journalists.&nbsp;

"If we take our models at face value, we expect that there would be a bigger difference."

The Sun's activity waxes and wanes in 11-year cycles.

The missions also measured incoming cosmic rays that grew stronger as the probes approached heliopause, with direct implications for the health of manned space missions into deep space.

"If an astronaut moves closer to the source [of cosmic rays], it is going to be important to understand how much intensity there is," Stone said.

"A factor of three is big when we're talking about the effect of radiation on life."&nbsp;

Built to last five years, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 set out to explore the solar system's outer planets.&nbsp;

After 42 years in action, they are still going strong, although both will run out of power and fall silent within five years.

But that does not mean they will disappear, said Bill Kurth, a researcher at the University of Iowa and co-author of the study focusing on plasma waves.

"They will outlast Earth," he said. "They are in their own orbits around the galaxy for five billion years or longer, and the probability of them running into anything is almost zero."

If intelligent life in a far corner of the Milky Way finds either probe one day, a "golden record" including drawing of a naked man and woman, bird and whale songs, and "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry will be on board. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A probe launched by NASA four days after Elvis died has delivered a treasure trove of data from beyond the "solar bubble" that envelops Earth and our neighbouring planets, scientists reported Monday.

A probe launched by NASA four days after Elvis died has delivered a treasure trove of data from beyond the "solar bubble" that envelops Earth and our neighbouring planets, scientists reported Monday. But for every mystery Voyager 2 has solved about the solar winds, magnetic fields and cosmic rays that buffet the boundary between interstellar space and the Sun's sphere of influence, a new one has cropped up. Voyager 2 left Earth's orbit in 1977 a month before its twin Voyager 1, but took seven years longer to reach the heliosphere's outer limit some 18 billion kilometres (more than 11 billion miles) away. Shaped something like a windsock in a stiff breeze, the heliosphere is formed by the Sun's magnetic field and solar winds that can reach speeds of three million kilometres per hour. It can be compared to a cosmic supertanker ploughing through space, said Edward Stone, a professor at the California Institute of Technology and lead author of one of five articles published in Nature Astronomy. "As it moves through the interstellar medium" -- the vast expanses of space between stellar fiefdoms -- "there's a wave in front, just as with the bow of a ship," Stone told journalists by phone. Scientists hoped to answer a number of questions by comparing data sent back by the two probes, which pierced the Sun's protective bubble at different angles and locations. Particle 'leakage' "We didn't have any good quantitative data of how big this bubble is that the Sun creates around itself with supersonic solar wind and ionised plasma speeding away in all directions," Stone said. Voyager 2 confirmed, for example, the existence of a "magnetic barrier" at the outer edge of the heliosphere that had been predicted by theory and observed by Voyager 1. "But contrary to all expectations and predictions, the magnetic field direction did not change when Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause," Leonard Burlaga, a scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and lead researcher for one of the studies, told AFP. The so-called heliopause is the relatively thin contact boundary where solar wind of charged particles and interstellar wind collide. Scientists were also surprised that it took 80 days for Voyager 2 to cross this magnetic barrier, while its sister probe did so in less than a day. And then there's the leakage enigma. As Voyager 1 crossed the heliosphere threshold, it detected particles from outer space -- notably cosmic rays -- racing the other way. "On Voyager 2, it was just the opposite," said Stone. "Once we left the heliosphere, we continued to see particles leaking from the inside out." In at least one case, it was a similarity between the two missions that was perplexing. Johnny B. Goode "This is very strange," said Tom Krimigis, a scientist in the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University and senior author of a study reporting on measurements of charged particles. "One crossing (of the heliopause) occurred at the solar minimum when solar activity is the least, and the other at the solar maximum," he told journalists. "If we take our models at face value, we expect that there would be a bigger difference." The Sun's activity waxes and wanes in 11-year cycles. The missions also measured incoming cosmic rays that grew stronger as the probes approached heliopause, with direct implications for the health of manned space missions into deep space. "If an astronaut moves closer to the source [of cosmic rays], it is going to be important to understand how much intensity there is," Stone said. "A factor of three is big when we're talking about the effect of radiation on life." Built to last five years, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 set out to explore the solar system's outer planets. After 42 years in action, they are still going strong, although both will run out of power and fall silent within five years. But that does not mean they will disappear, said Bill Kurth, a researcher at the University of Iowa and co-author of the study focusing on plasma waves. "They will outlast Earth," he said. "They are in their own orbits around the galaxy for five billion years or longer, and the probability of them running into anything is almost zero." If intelligent life in a far corner of the Milky Way finds either probe one day, a "golden record" including drawing of a naked man and woman, bird and whale songs, and "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry will be on board.

42 years on, Voyager 2 charts interstellar space

Voyager 2, a NASA probe launched in 1977 and designed for just a five-year mission, has become only the second human-made object to enter interstellar space as it continues its marathon trek billions of miles (km) from Earth, scientists said on Monday.

Data from instruments aboard the spacecraft showed it crossed the outer edge of the heliosphere, a protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields produced by the sun, on November 5, the US space agency said.

The boundary crossed by the intrepid probe as it journeys a bit more than 11 billion miles (18 billion km) from Earth is called the heliopause, a place where the hot solar wind runs up against the interstellar medium, the soup of stuff residing between the stars of our Milky Way galaxy.

"This is a very exciting time again in Voyager's 41-year journey, so far, of exploring the planets and now the heliosphere and entering interstellar space," Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist based at Caltech, told a news briefing.

Voyager 2 was launched in 1977, 16 days before its twin probe Voyager 1, which reached interstellar space in 2012. Voyager 2's instrument called the Plasma Science Experiment (PLS) is able to provide observations of the nature of this region of space. While Voyager 1 is still going strong on its own journey in interstellar space, its PLS stopped working in 1980.

The Voyager probes were designed to last five years and study the giant gas planets Jupiter and Saturn. Their refusal to die has also let them study Uranus and Neptune, the solar system's outermost giant planets.

Both probes carry a phonograph record. The gold-plated copper disk bears sounds, images and spoken greetings in multiple languages to depict Earth's diversity of life and culture, intended to communicate with potential extraterrestrial beings who may encounter them.

The two probes have not officially exited the solar system, whose outermost region is a shell called the Oort Cloud comprised of numerous small icy objects still under the sun's gravitational influence.

"I often get asked, 'So, is this it for Voyager? You've crossed out of the heliopause. Is it done? Are we finished?' Absolutely not. This is really, for me, the beginning of a new era of heliophysics science," said Nicola Fox, director of the heliophysics division at NASA headquarters.

"We are fortunate enough to have two very brave sentinels that have left our heliosphere and are out truly looking at the other side of the boundary," Fox added.

Voyager 2, a NASA probe launched in 1977 and designed for just a five-year mission, has become only the second human-made object to enter interstellar space as it continues its marathon trek billions of miles (km) from Earth, scientists said on Monday.

Voyager 2, a NASA probe launched in 1977 and designed for just a five-year mission, has become only the second human-made object to enter interstellar space as it continues its marathon trek billions of miles (km) from Earth, scientists said on Monday. Data from instruments aboard the spacecraft showed it crossed the outer edge of the heliosphere, a protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields produced by the sun, on November 5, the US space agency said. The boundary crossed by the intrepid probe as it journeys a bit more than 11 billion miles (18 billion km) from Earth is called the heliopause, a place where the hot solar wind runs up against the interstellar medium, the soup of stuff residing between the stars of our Milky Way galaxy. "This is a very exciting time again in Voyager's 41-year journey, so far, of exploring the planets and now the heliosphere and entering interstellar space," Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist based at Caltech, told a news briefing. Voyager 2 was launched in 1977, 16 days before its twin probe Voyager 1, which reached interstellar space in 2012. Voyager 2's instrument called the Plasma Science Experiment (PLS) is able to provide observations of the nature of this region of space. While Voyager 1 is still going strong on its own journey in interstellar space, its PLS stopped working in 1980. The Voyager probes were designed to last five years and study the giant gas planets Jupiter and Saturn. Their refusal to die has also let them study Uranus and Neptune, the solar system's outermost giant planets. Both probes carry a phonograph record. The gold-plated copper disk bears sounds, images and spoken greetings in multiple languages to depict Earth's diversity of life and culture, intended to communicate with potential extraterrestrial beings who may encounter them. The two probes have not officially exited the solar system, whose outermost region is a shell called the Oort Cloud comprised of numerous small icy objects still under the sun's gravitational influence. "I often get asked, 'So, is this it for Voyager? You've crossed out of the heliopause. Is it done? Are we finished?' Absolutely not. This is really, for me, the beginning of a new era of heliophysics science," said Nicola Fox, director of the heliophysics division at NASA headquarters. "We are fortunate enough to have two very brave sentinels that have left our heliosphere and are out truly looking at the other side of the boundary," Fox added.

Watch: NASA's intrepid Voyager 2 probe crosses into interstellar space

NASA&#39;s Hubble Space Telescope has found a brand-new mark on the surface of the farthest planet from the sun.&nbsp; 
 
This vortex is the first one observed on Neptune in the 21st century though similar features were seen around two decades ago in the year 1994 during the Voyager 2 flyby of Neptune in 1989 and by the Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery was announced on May 17 in a Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) electronic telegram by team leader Mike Wong of the University of California at Berkeley. 
 
Neptune&#39;s dark vortices, according to experts, are high-pressure systems and are usually accompanied by bright &quot;companion clouds&quot;, which are also now visible on the distant planet. The bright clouds form when the flow of ambient air is perturbed and diverted upward over the dark vortex, causing gases to likely freeze into methane ice crystals. 
 
&quot;Dark vortices coast through the atmosphere like huge, lens-shaped gaseous mountains,&quot; Wong explains, adding, &quot;and the companion clouds are similar to so-called orographic clouds that appear as pancake-shaped features lingering over mountains on Earth&quot;. 
 
&quot;Planetary astronomers hope to better understand how dark vortices originate, what controls their drifts and oscillations, how they interact with the environment, and how they eventually dissipate,&quot; according to UC Berkeley doctoral student Joshua Tollefson. Measuring the evolution of the new dark vortex will extend knowledge of both the dark vortices themselves, as well as the structure and dynamics of the surrounding atmosphere.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

Neptune's dark vortices, according to experts, are high-pressure systems and are usually accompanied by bright 'companion clouds'

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found a brand-new mark on the surface of the farthest planet from the sun. This vortex is the first one observed on Neptune in the 21st century though similar features were seen around two decades ago in the year 1994 during the Voyager 2 flyby of Neptune in 1989 and by the Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery was announced on May 17 in a Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) electronic telegram by team leader Mike Wong of the University of California at Berkeley. Neptune's dark vortices, according to experts, are high-pressure systems and are usually accompanied by bright "companion clouds", which are also now visible on the distant planet. The bright clouds form when the flow of ambient air is perturbed and diverted upward over the dark vortex, causing gases to likely freeze into methane ice crystals. "Dark vortices coast through the atmosphere like huge, lens-shaped gaseous mountains," Wong explains, adding, "and the companion clouds are similar to so-called orographic clouds that appear as pancake-shaped features lingering over mountains on Earth". "Planetary astronomers hope to better understand how dark vortices originate, what controls their drifts and oscillations, how they interact with the environment, and how they eventually dissipate," according to UC Berkeley doctoral student Joshua Tollefson. Measuring the evolution of the new dark vortex will extend knowledge of both the dark vortices themselves, as well as the structure and dynamics of the surrounding atmosphere. (ANI)

NASA finds new vortex on Neptune

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