Voyager-1: The First Man Made Interstellar Object

 What is Voyager-1?

In 1977, NASA began a mission to explore the solar system and beyond using two spacecraft (Voyager 1 and Voyager 2). These spacecraft were designed to study the exoplanets of our solar system, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. But her journey didn't end there. They continued to travel the expanses of interstellar space, relaying data back to Earth and giving us glimpses of the mysteries of the universe.

After beginning its journey in 1977, it took her just over a year to reach Jupiter. We then headed to Saturn and made some amazing discoveries. Voyager 1 was the first spacecraft to observe strange hexagonal cloud patterns at Saturn's north pole, and also discovered several new moons.

The Voyager 1 spacecraft is powered by three thermoelectric radioisotope generators (RTGs) that convert heat from the decay of plutonium-238 into electricity. These generators kept Voyager 1 operational for over 40 years after its first mission was completed. Its max speed is 61500km/h. And after 40,000 years from now, it will be closer to another star than to our own Sun.

Farthest photo ever taken from Earth

The "Pale Blue Dot" is a picture of Earth taken on February 14, 1990 by the Voyager 1 spacecraft from a distance of about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). This image shows Earth as a tiny pale blue dot in the vastness of space surrounded by nothing but darkness.

The picture was taken as part of a series of images designed to capture the planets of our solar system as Voyager 1 passed through the orbit of Neptune and reached the outer reaches of our solar system. But NASA scientists and engineers decided to flip the spacecraft's cameras to capture one last image of Earth before it disappeared from Voyager's field of view.

This image has become an iconic symbol of human existence and our place in the universe. It shows the fragility and beauty of our planet and how small and insignificant we all are. The late Carl Sagan, who was a member of his Voyager team, famously referred to Earth as a "pale blue dot" in the book of the same name inspired by that image.

This photo is also a reminder of our common humanity and the need to take care of our planet. It has been used as a tool for environmental education and activism, and as a source of inspiration for space exploration and scientific discovery.

Essentially, the Pale Blue Dot is a humble reminder of our place in the vast universe and the importance of cherishing and protecting our one and only home. In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space, the space between stars. Now from Earth, he is over 14 billion miles away and still transmitting data. The data transmitted by Voyager 1 helped us understand the densities, temperatures, magnetic fields, and other properties of interstellar space.

The Gold Disc of Voyager-1

However, another lesser-known aspect of Voyager 1 is its disc, which is a component of the spacecraft's data storage system. The disc is a gold-plated copper plate that measures 12 inches in diameter and contains a variety of information about humanity and Earth.

The disc was designed to be a sort of "message in a bottle" to any intelligent life that might encounter Voyager 1 in the future. It contains a variety of images, sounds, and greetings in 55 different languages, as well as a map showing the location of our planet within the Milky Way galaxy.

One of the most interesting things about the disc is the way it was created. NASA turned to a committee of experts to decide what information to include on the disc. The committee included prominent scientists and thinkers like Carl Sagan and Frank Drake, as well as cultural figures like novelist Ann Druyan and musician Chuck Berry. Together, the committee selected a diverse array of information to include on the disc. Some of the sounds included on the disc are natural, such as thunder and bird calls, while others are human-made, such as the sound of a train and a kiss.

In addition to the sounds, the disc also contains images of human anatomy, plants, and animals, as well as diagrams of DNA and the structure of the solar system. The images were chosen to convey a sense of what life on Earth is like and to provide a basic understanding of our biology and the world around us.

The disc was installed on Voyager 1 shortly before the spacecraft was launched, and it has been hurtling through space ever since. As of 2023, Voyager 1 is over 14 billion miles away from Earth, making it the most distant human-made object in space.

The Voyager 1 spacecraft was an amazing feat of ergonomics and exploration. It has increased our knowledge of the exoplanets, provided glimpses into interstellar space, and delivered messages of peace and friendship to the unknown reaches of the universe. We can only imagine what kind of discoveries will be made and what mysteries will be revealed. 

While it's unlikely that any intelligent life will ever encounter Voyager 1 and its disc, the spacecraft still serves as a testament to humanity's curiosity and desire to explore.

 And who knows? 

Maybe someday, far in the future, someone or something will stumble upon Voyager 1 and learn a little bit more about the planet we call home.

Resources:

https://www.space.com/22784-voyager-1-spacecraft-interstellar-space-complete-coverage.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51491471

https://uwpexponent.com/news/2022/09/21/voyager-1-forty-five-years-later/

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/interstellar/en/#:~:text=As%20of%202015%2C%20it%20is,beginning%20of%20the%20Oort%20Cloud.

https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1

https://www.space.com/17688-voyager-1.html