The Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched by NASA in 1977, recently made contact with Earth using a transmitter that has not been active since 1981. This extraordinary event marks a significant moment in the history of space exploration, as Voyager 1 is the most distant spacecraft from our planet.
An Incredible Journey
After being launched on 5 September 1977 to study Saturn, Voyager 1 continued its long journey to the edge of the Solar System, crossing it in 2012. Currently, the probe is about 165 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Despite being almost half a century old, it continues to send back valuable data on the interstellar environment.
Communication Problems
On 16 October 2024, Voyager 1 stopped responding to the last commands sent by the antennas of the Deep Space Network. Considering the great distance, the signals took about 23 hours to reach the probe and as long to receive a response. After sending a command to turn on some heating devices, the probe activated an emergency mode, deactivating several electronic systems, including X-band communication systems.
An Unexpected Recovery
However, Voyager 1 activated an emergency communication system in the S-band, a less efficient but operational system after 41 years of inactivity. This device made it possible to send new commands and restore connections with the probe, thus ensuring the continuation of its epic journey beyond the Solar System.
Conclusion
The recovery of communications with Voyager 1 not only demonstrates the resilience of space technology, but also offers new opportunities to gather vital data about the universe. NASA continues to monitor the probe and gain vital information for understanding interstellar space.
