Voyager spacecraft nears exit of solar system

**TykeClone** · 12-15-2010, 09:38 AM

Voyager spacecraft nears exit of solar system

The US space agency's Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached the outer edge of the solar system where wind from the Sun is no longer blowing outward, but sideways, NASA said. The spacecraft was launched in 1977 and has since snapped images of Earth and other planets in the solar system and provided NASA with crucial information as it makes its long journey into outer space.
NASA researchers think Voyager 1 will leave the solar system and enter interstellar space, or the area in between the end of the Sun's influence and the next star system, in about four years.
For now, Voyager 1 is 17.4 billion kilometers (10.8 billion miles) from the Sun in "an area where the velocity of the hot ionized gas, or plasma, emanating directly outward from the sun has slowed to zero," the space agency said.

**bos** · 12-15-2010, 09:39 AM

Im space noob I guess, but how do they amplify the signal to communicate with the device that far? Seems pretty far. I mean I can barely get good cell signal from my house in town.

**ruxCYtable** · 12-15-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by bos

Im space noob I guess, but how do they amplify the signal to communicate with the device that far? Seems pretty far. I mean I can barely get good cell signal from my house in town.

I'm not sure if they'd have to amplify it at all. There are no atmospheric conditions in space to interfere with the transmission. Communications might take a while to travel back and forth but I think as long as they don't run into any interference they would continue on forever. Someone will probably correct me though.

**jbhtexas** · 12-15-2010, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by bos

Im space noob I guess, but how do they amplify the signal to communicate with the device that far? Seems pretty far. I mean I can barely get good cell signal from my house in town.

Maybe NASA installed one of these on Voyager before they sent it out...

**bos** · 12-15-2010, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

I'm not sure if they'd have to amplify it at all. There are no atmospheric conditions in space to interfere with the transmission. Communications might take a while to travel back and forth but I think as long as they don't run into any interference they would continue on forever. Someone will probably correct me though.

True, but they have other problems like solar flares and other radiation, correct? I know I could probably look it up but it will be in a bunch of smart-jargon.

**CycloneErik** · 12-15-2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by bos

True, but they have other problems like solar flares and other radiation, correct? I know I could probably look it up but it will be in a bunch of smart-jargon.

And the last thing you need is smart-jargon in the morning........

**SuperCy** · 12-15-2010, 10:03 AM

How long until we have to send Captain Kirk out to destroy Voayger before it destroys us?

**TykeClone** · 12-15-2010, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by SuperCy

How long until we have to send Captain Kirk out to destroy Voayger before it destroys us?

Timeline of Star Trek - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

261 years.

**bos** · 12-15-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

And the last thing you need is smart-jargon in the morning........

Today is pay day. Thats all I can handle.

**Bobber** · 12-15-2010, 10:07 AM

Amazing when you think about it. It's been travelling at a high rate of speed non stop for 33 years and it's now just hitting the edge of our solar system.

**bos** · 12-15-2010, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Amazing when you think about it. It's been travelling at a high rate of speed non stop for 33 years and it's now just hitting the edge of our solar system.

Now calculate miles per gallon.

**vmbplayer** · 12-15-2010, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by bos

True, but they have other problems like solar flares and other radiation, correct? I know I could probably look it up but it will be in a bunch of smart-jargon.

Here let me google that for ya

, only because i wanted to know too.

HowStuffWorks "How do the Voyager spacecraft transmit radio signals so far?"

and

Voyager - Did You Know?

Originally Posted by nasa.gov

The sensitivity of our deep-space tracking antennas located around the world is truly amazing. The antennas must capture Voyager information from a signal so weak that the power striking the antenna is only 10 exponent -16 watts (1 part in 10 quadrillion). A modern-day electronic digital watch operates at a power level 20 billion times greater than this feeble level.

**bos** · 12-15-2010, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by vmbplayer

Here let me google that for ya

, only because i wanted to know too.

HowStuffWorks "How do the Voyager spacecraft transmit radio signals so far?"

and

Voyager - Did You Know?

Perfect. Even addressed my cell phone comment. =)

Thats alot of juice.

**Cyclones_R_GR8** · 12-15-2010, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Amazing when you think about it. It's been travelling at a high rate of speed non stop for 33 years and it's now just hitting the edge of our solar system.

That's what I find incredible. It is nowhere near the end of our galaxy after all this time. That and the fact that it is running on 1970's technology.