ボイジャー1号とはいつまで通信できるのか？【JST 午後正午】

Summary

The script details the remarkable journey of Voyager 1 and 2, launched in 1977, which have traveled farther than any other probes from Earth. Despite being at a staggering distance of 24 billion km, they still communicate with Earth, sending back valuable data. The script explains how they utilize planetary gravity assists and atomic power to continue their mission, overcoming challenges and maintaining communication with the help of NASA's Deep Space Network. As they venture into uncharted territories, the Voyagers are expected to lose contact by 2036, but their legacy as pioneers of deep space exploration endures.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Voyager 1 was launched in 1977 and is the farthest man-made object from Earth, currently at a distance of 2.4 billion kilometers.
• ⚡ It travels at an incredible speed of 17 kilometers per second, which helps it maintain communication with Earth despite the vast distance.
• 📡 The Deep Space Network, a system of large antennas around the world, is used to send commands and receive data from Voyager 1 due to its weak signal strength.
• 🔋 Voyager 1 uses a nuclear power source, which converts the heat from plutonium decay into electricity, to power its instruments and communication equipment.
• 🛰 Voyager 2, launched two weeks before Voyager 1, has a slightly lower speed but has explored planets like Uranus and Neptune that Voyager 1 did not.
• 🌌 Both Voyager spacecraft have left the heliosphere, the region of space dominated by the solar wind, and are now in interstellar space.
• 📸 Voyager 1 captured iconic images of planets and their moons, including the discovery of active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and the rings of Saturn.
• 🔬 The spacecraft carry scientific instruments to measure magnetic fields, cosmic particles, and other phenomena, some of which are still operational.
• ⏳ The power generation of Voyager 1's nuclear batteries has decreased over time, and NASA estimates that by 2025, they may not have enough power to operate any instruments.
• 🛠 Voyager 1 and 2 have encountered technical issues, such as antenna misalignment and data corruption, but NASA has managed to overcome these challenges.
• 🌐 The Voyager spacecraft are expected to lose the ability to communicate with Earth by 2036 due to the decreasing power of their signals.

Q & A

When was Voyager 1 launched?

Voyager 1 was launched on September 5, 1977.

What is the current speed of Voyager 1?

Voyager 1 is currently traveling at a speed of 17.1 km per second.

How far is Voyager 1 from Earth as of the script's information?

Voyager 1 is approximately 2.4 billion kilometers away from Earth.

What is the significance of the Voyager 1 and 2 mission in terms of planetary exploration?

Voyager 1 and 2 were twin spacecrafts designed to explore the outer planets, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, taking advantage of a rare alignment of these planets.

What discovery did Voyager 1 make about Jupiter's rings?

Voyager 1 discovered the existence of thin rings around Jupiter and the presence of active volcanoes on its moon, Io.

What was a significant finding about Saturn's rings by Voyager 1?

Voyager 1 provided close-up observations of Saturn's rings and discovered several new satellites.

What is the difference in speed between Voyager 1 and Voyager 2?

Voyager 1 travels at a speed of 17.1 km per second, whereas Voyager 2 travels at approximately 15.6 km per second.

What is the heliosphere and how does it relate to the solar wind?

The heliosphere is the region of space where solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun, can reach. It forms a bubble-like structure due to the interaction with the interstellar medium.

What is the estimated time until Voyager 1 can no longer communicate with Earth?

According to NASA's estimates, Voyager 1 may become incommunicado by 2036 due to the decreasing power of its radio signals.

How does NASA maintain communication with Voyager 1 over such vast distances?

NASA uses the Deep Space Network, which includes large, high-gain antennas located in the United States, Spain, and Australia, to send commands and receive data from Voyager 1.

What power source does Voyager 1 use, and how has it changed over time?

Voyager 1 uses a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that converts heat from the decay of plutonium into electrical energy. The power output has decreased from over 400W at launch to under 200W currently.

What is the significance of the 'pale blue dot' photo taken by Voyager 1?

The 'pale blue dot' is a photograph of Earth taken from a distance of about 6 billion kilometers away, showing Earth as a tiny point of light in the vastness of space.

What measures has NASA taken to extend the operational life of Voyager 1 and 2?

NASA has implemented power-saving measures, such as turning off lower-priority instruments and adjusting the thruster firing times to reduce the accumulation of propellant in the lines.