Voyager program facts for kids
The Voyager program is a space exploration project by NASA, the space agency of the United States. It includes two unmanned (meaning no people on board) space probes called Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. These probes were launched in 1977. They were sent into space to use a special lineup of planets that happened in the late 1970s.
Even though they were first meant to study only Jupiter and Saturn, both probes kept going. They continued their journey into the outer parts of our Solar System. Since then, they have traveled even farther and have now left the solar system entirely. These amazing probes were built at the JPL and funded by NASA.
Both Voyager missions have collected a huge amount of information about the gas giant planets. Before these missions, we knew very little about these distant worlds. The paths of the spacecraft also helped scientists understand more about where Planet X might or might not be. Some people once thought Planet X was a planet even farther from the Sun than Pluto.
In 2013, NASA announced that Voyager 1 had officially left our solar system. This happened on August 25, 2012. It was the first object made by humans to enter interstellar space. Interstellar space is the vast area between star systems. Later, in 2018, NASA shared that Voyager 2 had also reached the edge of the heliosphere on November 5 of that year. Now, both Voyager probes are traveling through the space between stars.
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What is the Voyager Program?
The Voyager program is a very important part of space history. It involves two robotic spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. These probes were designed to explore the outer planets of our solar system. They have gone far beyond their original goals.
Why Were They Launched?
The probes were launched in 1977. This was a special time because the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) were lined up in a rare way. This alignment happens only once every 175 years. It allowed the spacecraft to use the gravity of each planet to speed up and slingshot to the next. This method is called a "gravity assist." It saved a lot of fuel and time.
What Did Voyager 1 Explore?
Voyager 1 was launched on September 5, 1977. It flew past Jupiter in 1979. It then visited Saturn in 1980. After studying Saturn and its moon Titan, Voyager 1 changed its path. It headed out of the plane of the planets. This path allowed it to get a closer look at Titan. However, it meant it could not visit any more planets.
Key Discoveries by Voyager 1
- Jupiter: Voyager 1 helped us see Jupiter's Great Red Spot up close. It also discovered two new moons, Thebe and Metis.
- Saturn: It provided detailed images of Saturn's rings. It also found three new moons: Atlas, Prometheus, and Pandora.
- Titan: Voyager 1 confirmed that Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has a thick atmosphere. This was a very exciting discovery.
What Did Voyager 2 Explore?
Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. It followed a different path than Voyager 1. This allowed it to visit all four gas giant planets. It flew past Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1981. Then, it went on to Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989. Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune.
Key Discoveries by Voyager 2
- Jupiter: Like Voyager 1, it gave us more details about Jupiter. It found new moons and studied its rings.
- Saturn: It provided more close-up views of Saturn's rings and moons.
- Uranus: Voyager 2 discovered 10 new moons around Uranus. It also found two new rings. It showed that Uranus's magnetic field is tilted strangely.
- Neptune: It discovered five new moons around Neptune. It also found four new rings. It provided the first close-up images of Neptune's largest moon, Triton.
Leaving the Solar System
Both Voyager probes have now traveled beyond the main part of our solar system. They are in a region called the heliosphere. This is a giant bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by our Sun. The edge of this bubble is called the heliopause.
Voyager 1 Enters Interstellar Space
In 2012, Voyager 1 crossed the heliopause. This means it officially entered interstellar space. It is now traveling through the space between stars. This was a huge moment for space exploration. It showed that human-made objects can leave our solar system.
Voyager 2 Joins the Journey
In 2018, Voyager 2 also crossed the heliopause. It followed its twin into interstellar space. Both probes are now sending back data from this unknown region. They are helping scientists learn about the space beyond our Sun's influence.
The Golden Record
Each Voyager spacecraft carries a special item called the Voyager Golden Record. This is a gold-plated copper record. It contains sounds and images chosen to represent life and culture on Earth. It is like a message in a bottle sent out into the cosmic ocean.
What's on the Record?
The record includes:
- Sounds of Earth, like thunder, waves, and animal calls.
- Music from different cultures and times.
- Greetings in 55 different languages.
- Images showing human anatomy, science, and scenes from Earth.
- A diagram explaining how to play the record.
The Golden Record is meant for any intelligent alien life forms that might find the probes in the distant future. It's a way for us to say "hello" to the universe.
The Future of Voyager
The Voyager probes are still working. They continue to send back data to Earth. However, their power sources are slowly running out. They use special generators called RTGs (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators). These convert heat from decaying radioactive material into electricity.
Scientists expect that the instruments on both probes will start to shut down one by one. This will happen over the next few years. Eventually, around 2025, they will no longer be able to send signals back to Earth. Even after they stop communicating, the probes will continue their silent journey through interstellar space for millions of years. They will be a lasting legacy of human exploration.
Images for kids
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RTGs for the Voyager program
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Voyager 1 crossed the heliopause, or the edge of the heliosphere, in August 2012. Voyager 2 crossed the heliosheath in November 2018.
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This diagram about the heliosphere was released on 28 June 2013 and incorporates results from the Voyager spacecraft.
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The cover of the golden record
See also
In Spanish: Voyager para niños
