NASA’s Voyager 1, which originally launched on September 5, 1977, is making headlines once more. Scientists as of this week are working on alternative techniques to resume communication with the spacecraft. This pioneering probe is more than 25 billion kilometers from Earth. Now, in the interstellar medium, it’s providing truly unique discoveries and information about that far-flung outer Solar System and place beyond our Solar System.
Though its distance is astronomically far, NASA is still able to communicate with Voyager 1, but the operation isn’t simple. The excitement of getting these deep-space images comes with a special twist—communication with this far-flung probe is difficult because of the huge distances. To accurately calculate the distance of Voyager 1 from Earth, scientists rely on the travel time of signals sent between the spacecraft and mission control. The other part of the challenge is that signals fade dramatically over long distances.
To get around this issue, researchers added low-frequency signals to Voyager 1’s original ranging code and mixed it in. Xiaoyu Dang, a scientist involved in this project, emphasized the significance of these advancements:
“Signals get very weak, and existing ranging codes struggle to pinpoint a spacecraft’s exact distance precisely over these enormous gaps.”
Advanced coding methods are being incorporated to increase accuracy in distance calculations. This added feature is important for navigating the often congested airspace during these time sensitive operations.
Voyager 1 is one of the deepest deep-space probes ever launched. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory manufactured this beautiful instrument. It’s mass is about 825kg, and it generates its own electricity via a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). From the infinite power of the solar system’s most abundant energy source, this engine carries it deeper into the solar system. There, solar energy starts to lose its luster.
It seems like yesterday that the primary mission of Voyager 1 was exploring the outer Solar System. It has provided scientists with unprecedented insights into planetary systems. Even after meeting its original goals, it still sends a ton of useful information. Voyager 1 carries with it a Golden Record, which is filled with sounds and images from our home planet. This record serves as a time capsule for any extraterrestrial life that might find it.
Voyager 1 is approaching the end of its expected lifespan, which will be about 2025. With continuous transmission of information back to Earth, its influence is helping and informing research every day. These new signal codes were designed by scientists to improve communication and make for a faster trip as well.
“This is invaluable for faster, simpler navigation during critical operations,” Dang noted. The advancements in signal processing promise to dramatically improve the efficiency in which NASA will control its deep-space missions.
