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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Voyager 1's Golden Record
- Voyager 1 launched in 1977 carrying a golden record with greetings, sounds, and music from Earth.
- This was intended as a message to any alien life that might encounter the probe.
Voyager 1's Glitch
- Voyager 1 is 15 billion miles away and still communicates with Earth, despite its age.
- However, it recently started sending incoherent messages, alternating ones and zeros instead of data.
Voyager 1's Continued Scientific Value
- Voyager 1 is still scientifically valuable, collecting data from interstellar space.
- Stella Ocker, a researcher, relies on this data for her studies.