The Voyager 1 spacecraft resumes sending technical updates back to Earth

In an announcement released on April 22, NASA said the next step is to find a way for the Voyager 1 spacecraft to start sending back scientific data.

On November 14, 2023, the Voyager 1 spacecraft stopped transmitting readable scientific and technical data, although NASA scientists say the spacecraft is still operating normally and continues to operate. receive orders from this agency.

Last March, the technical team in charge of Voyager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that the problem was related to one of the three computers on the spacecraft responsible for synthesizing scientific and technical data. technique before sending it back to Earth.

The Voyager 1 spacecraft and its twin brother, Voyager 2, were launched into space 46 years ago. The pair of Voyagers are designed to operate for decades and have become the first man-made objects to reach deep into interstellar space.

Before embarking on their interstellar expedition, both Voyager spacecraft passed by Saturn and Jupiter. Voyager 2 alone flew by Uranus and Neptune.

Kareem Winters

Update 23 April 2024