Short Wave
The Recent Glitch Threatening Voyager 1
Mar 6, 2024
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR science correspondent with a focus on space exploration, discusses the recent glitch threatening Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object in space. She explains how this aging probe, launched in 1977 with a golden record, encountered an electronic issue that’s complicating NASA's attempts to communicate. Greenfieldboyce shares insights into Voyager's incredible journey beyond our solar system and the emotional connection scientists feel toward this interstellar emissary as they strive to restore its functionality.
12:25
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Quick takeaways
- Voyager 1's electronic glitch threatens its mission and communications with Earth.
- NASA faces challenges repairing Voyager 1's malfunction to prevent it from becoming space debris.
Deep dives
Voyager 1's Historic Journey Beyond the Solar System
Voyager 1, launched in 1977, has ventured 15 billion miles away from Earth, surpassing our solar system's boundaries. Originally intended for a four-year mission to Saturn and Jupiter, Voyager 1 extended its journey to Uranus and Neptune, becoming the first spacecraft to reach Neptune in 1989. Now beyond the Heliosphere, Voyager 1 faces communication challenges due to an electronic malfunction, impacting its scientific contributions.
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