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In the infinite depths of the universe, an interstellar drifter is flying silently, more than 22.98 billion kilometers from Earth. This is not the beginning of science fiction, but the true story of Voyager 1 in reality.
The unmanned probe, which revealed the mysteries of Jupiter and Saturn, finally drifted to the edge of the solar system and sent the last greetings to Earth. And at this moment of farewell, the last photograph it took, "Dull Blue Dot", is not only shocking, but also provokes a deep reflection on the existence and future of mankind.
Lonely traveler
In the depths of the universe, there is a bold spaceship that travels through the unknown interstellar space. It has crossed the borders of our solar system and has become the farthest pioneer in human history.
This unmanned probe is Voyager 1, which has been flying for 43 years, but it still maintains communication with the Earth, passing on what it has seen and heard.
The legend of Voyager 1 began in the 60s of the last century. At that time, NASA came up with a grand plan called the "Planetary Journey Program". The goal of this program is to send a pair of probes into outer space, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to travel through all the outer planets.
Between 1977 and 1981, the planets would be in a rare alignment, providing probes with a great gravitational slingshot effect that could use planetary gravity to accelerate and change the direction of flight, saving fuel and time.
However, it was put on hold due to the high budget of the program. NASA had to drastically scale back its program and eventually launched two probes with the main mission of exploring Jupiter and Saturn, known as the Voyager program.
Originally named Mariner 11 and Mariner 12 as part of Project Mariner, Voyager 1 and Mariner 2 were named Mariner 11 and Mariner 12 respectively, but due to their superior design and performance, they eventually received a new name – Voyager.
On its journey into space, Voyager 1 was built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and weighed 825.5 kilograms, was 6.4 meters long, 4.9 meters wide and 3.7 meters high. It resembles a pyramid in appearance, and at the top is a high-efficiency antenna with a diameter of 3.7 meters, which is used to communicate with the Earth.
Underneath the antenna is a spacecraft body consisting of 10 faces, which is loaded with various instruments and systems. A 2.7-meter-long bracket is hung on each of the four sides of the main spacecraft, and a radioisotope thermomotor is connected to each of the ends of the bracket to provide power to the spacecraft. On the other side, there is a scanning platform on which various scientific equipment such as cameras, spectrometers, magnetometers, etc. are mounted.
Voyager 1's communications system has been carefully designed to break through the boundaries of the solar system. Its high-performance antennas transmit and receive radio waves through three deep space network stations on Earth.
Normally, Voyager 1 transmits data at 2.3 GHz or 8.4 GHz in Deep Space Network channel 18, while Earth sends it a signal at 2.1 GHz.
Even if it is not possible to communicate directly with Earth, the Voyager 1's digital tape recorder can store about 67 MB of data for transmission at other times. In 2023, it will take us more than 20 hours to receive a message from it.
Voyager 1's electrical system consists of three radioisotope thermoelectric motors, powered by thermal energy released during the decay of plutonium-238.
Each thermomotor contains 24 compressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres, capable of producing approximately 470 watts of electricity. Although the power output of these thermoelectric motors decreases over time, the half-life of the fuel and the decay of thermocouples, they are still able to provide enough power for the spacecraft to continue to communicate with Earth and collect scientific data. It is expected that by 2036, the thermal power will run out.
The Voyager 1 computer system consists of three subsystems: the flight data subsystem, the computer command subsystem, and the attitude adjustment control subsystem.
The flight data subsystem is responsible for managing cameras and other scientific instruments, as well as the processing and storage of data. The computer instruction subsystem is responsible for receiving and decoding instructions sent by the Earth and performing fault detection and repair procedures.
The attitude adjustment control subsystem controls the orientation of the spacecraft, points the high-efficiency antenna at the Earth, and precisely locates the scanning platform. These subsystems all have fixed computer programs and spare hardware units to ensure the proper functioning of the spacecraft.
Voyager 1 is a complex and advanced space exploration mission that carries the curiosity and spirit of exploration of the solar system.
Its flight is a grand and thrilling journey, and the discoveries it brings are crucial and fascinating for science. Next, let's explore the journey of Voyager 1 and its important contribution to our understanding of the solar system.
The traveler's last message
Voyager 1, the first probe in human history to cross the boundaries of the solar system. Launched on September 5, 1977, it reached Jupiter and Saturn, unveiling the mystery of the two gas giants and their moons.
After the main mission is over, it continues to explore the outside world, breaking through the solar wind layer, stepping into the deeper universe, and traveling the wider sea of stars.
Throughout its long voyage, Voyager 1 continued to send valuable data and information to Earth, giving humans a glimpse into the universe beyond the solar system.
It also carries a golden record that records human language, music, and culture, with a beautiful vision of communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations. Voyager 1 symbolizes human ingenuity and the spirit of exploration, and is our greeting and tribute to the unknown.
However, over time, its three radioisotope thermomotors gradually decayed, resulting in a constant weakening of the power output. In order to extend its life, NASA had to gradually shut down some of its instruments to conserve power.
It is expected that by 2025, all equipment on Voyager 1 will be completely inoperable, and it will no longer be able to transmit data or receive orders from humans. After that, it will lose contact with us forever and become a silent lonely ship in space.
Voyager 1 sent back the last message before losing contact, and the final photo it took, the Dull Blue Dot. This image, taken 6 billion kilometers from Earth, shows the Earth alone suspended in the dark background of the solar system, with only tiny blue pixels.
This lens makes humanity deeply aware of the smallness and fragility of the earth, and provokes people to think deeply about their own existence and future. The famous American astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan was also inspired to write the book "Faint Blue Dot", expressing his profound insights and feelings about human beings and the universe.
Voyager 1's last message serves as a reminder and warning to humanity, as well as a blessing and expectation to humanity. It tells us that the earth is our only home, which should be cherished and protected, and lived together in peace and fraternity.
At the same time, it also reminds us that the universe is vast and mysterious, and we should continue to explore and learn from Xi. Perhaps one day, we will meet other civilizations and share our knowledge and experience with them.
epilogue
Voyager 1 will continue to gallop towards the center of the Milky Way, traveling through interstellar space at a speed of 17 kilometers per second, perhaps never encountering any celestial body, perhaps attracted by the gravitational pull of a star, or swallowed by a black hole.
Either way, it will always carry the memories and dreams of mankind and become a never-ending interstellar caster. Perhaps one day, it will be discovered by an alien civilization or overtaken by a human spaceship, and a new chapter in its story will begin.
Until then, however, it will float alone in the universe until the metal corrodes, until the circuit short-circuits, until the signal fades away.
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