Outer Space and Beyond

NASA illustration

Voyager 1, a somewhat aged piece of technology sent out of our atmosphere in 1977 on a long voyage to Outer Space, a concept of the kind of reality that most people cannot even begin to envision, is also considered to be an interstellar ambassador. Its main mission of course, has been to radio back to experimental astrophysical laboratories on Earth information on whatever it has come across, advancing in the process scientific knowledge of nature and the Universe in which we live.

NASA

As an interstellar ambassador, the compact-car-sized traveller has been outfitted with a gold-plated disk upon which has been recorded multicultural greetings, songs, photographs, whatever can apprise another intelligence of life as it appears on Planet Earth. Should such an intelligence of an alien species be capable of interpreting the message they might be left confused and doubting of the actual intelligence of the human species.

On the other hand they could also be sufficiently intrigued to mark their seasonal vacation calender with a reminder that they might like to venture into our neighbourhood for a quick look about. Possibly to determine whether it might be worth their bother to collect a few foreign specimens for later laboratory inspection back in their own neighbourhood.

Perhaps sending that gold-plated disk, if it contains rap or hip-hop or indications of celebrity worship and photographs of world conflicts might convince anyone of an alien species that there is nothing of merit worthwhile visiting Earth for, and thoughts of collections might be speedily banished from mind, leaving them free to go on to more worthwhile endeavours.

As far as Earth and scientific knowledge accruing with the use of Voyager 1 is concerned, the event represents a marvel beyond full human comprehension. How to imagine the vast, cold darkness of space? And for thirty-six years a mechanical contrivance with sophisticated electronic capabilities has been travelling on a mission to help empower us through acquiring knowledge. How clever of us.
The data and images it has flashed back to laboratories on Earth have been an invaluable learning tool.

NASA

The plutonium-powered probe is said now by NASA to be over 18.51 billion kilometres from the sun. That vast warming disk responsible for life on our planet, and which, without its life-giving properties we would not exist, has bombarded the Voyager with its particles, assuring researchers receiving radio signals back on Earth that the probe has remained within the orbit of the sun.

Now, we are informed that what is considered to be the hot plasma bubble surrounding the planets revolving around our sun have finally been bypassed. Voyager 1 has left the solar system. It will now begin to send back signals identifying parts of the universe never before explored. Signals of explosions of ancient stars, radioing the data back to researchers on Earth.

"It took us ten seconds to realize we were in interstellar space", observed Don Gurnett, a Voyager scientist at University of Iowa, who has led new research published online in the journal Science. Not to overlook the spectacular space exploration of Voyager 2, trailing its sister probe. It is estimated that another three years of travel will bring Voyager 2 to the point where Voyager 1 is currently.

They will both eventually exhaust their nuclear fuel And that is estimated to happen around the year 2025.