kokobob.com

The Future of Voyager-1 and Voyager-2: What Lies Ahead?

Written on

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Voyagers

Recently, a subscriber posed a fascinating question: “Could you explain what lies ahead for the Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 spacecraft? Which stars are they on a trajectory towards? Will they ever encounter extraterrestrial life?”

Launched in 1977, Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 embarked on a mission to study the outer planets of our Solar System, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. After successfully achieving their objectives, these spacecraft continued their journey into the depths of space, raising intriguing questions about their future.

Artistic rendering of Voyager 1 in space

Chapter 1.1: The Power Supply Countdown

Post-2020, both spacecraft will exhaust their supply of plutonium-238, which powers their radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Once this occurs, NASA engineers will deactivate most of their systems, conserving the remaining energy for essential tasks such as collecting and sending back spectroscopy data, as well as monitoring magnetic fields and plasma along their path.

Artistic rendering of Voyager 2 in space

Chapter 1.2: Drifting into the Unknown

By 2025, both Voyager spacecraft will completely deplete their energy resources and will drift aimlessly in the cosmos. Any deviation from their current paths would only occur due to gravitational influences from other celestial bodies or accidental collisions.

Voyager-1 is headed toward the Gliese-445 system, which it will approach in about 40,000 years at a distance of 1.6 light-years from the star. In contrast, Voyager-2 is on course for Sirius, expected to come within 4.3 light-years in approximately 300,000 years.

Artistic depiction of Voyager 2 nearing Sirius

Chapter 1.3: Speed and Survival

Both spacecraft travel at speeds exceeding 55,000 km/h. A collision with any object larger than a helium atom would spell the end of their missions. However, the odds of such an event are minimal, giving the Voyagers a strong chance of reaching other star systems undamaged.

Artistic visualization of Voyager's journey through space

Chapter 2: Interstellar Fate

It is nearly certain that the gravitational pull of another star will not ensnare the Voyagers. Their fate will likely mirror that of the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua, which made its closest approach to the Sun in 2017.

Artistic interpretation of ‘Oumuamua's trajectory

The object traveled past the Sun at a remarkable speed of over 150,000 km/h and is now on a path out of the Solar System.

Will the Voyagers be intercepted by an extraterrestrial civilization? That remains unknown. However, it is certain they will not exit our galaxy. Our Solar System orbits the galaxy's center approximately 15 times faster than the Voyagers. This means that in several hundred million years, the paths of our Sun and potentially one or both Voyagers may cross.

The golden record on the Voyager spacecraft

Who knows? By then, humanity may have established colonies in nearby star systems, potentially becoming the recipients of the messages contained within the Voyagers' golden records.

If you want to see more articles about space, please clap! Subscribe to our channel and send in your questions for future articles. You can also support my work by becoming a member on Medium for only $5 a month, which will help us produce even more engaging content.

This video discusses how NASA's Voyager 1 has resumed transmitting usable data back to Earth, offering fresh insights into its ongoing mission.

In this video, we explore how Voyager has detected phenomena beyond the boundaries of our Solar System, furthering our understanding of the cosmos.

Share the page:

Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkIn

-----------------------

Recent Post:

A Journey Through the World's Most Lethal Garden

Discover the chilling allure of the Alnwick Poison Garden, a unique attraction filled with some of the deadliest plants on Earth.

The Future of Voyager-1 and Voyager-2: What Lies Ahead?

Explore the future of Voyager-1 and Voyager-2, their destinations, and the possibility of extraterrestrial contact.

Embark on Your Journey as a Mythic Hero: 10 Steps to Success

Discover the 10 essential strategies to cultivate the mindset of a mythic hero and achieve significant success in your life.

Exploring the Future: Embracing Star Trek Technology

A deep dive into the possibilities of Star Trek technology and its impact on our lives.

Tracing the Discovery of the World’s Oldest Leather Saddle

Archaeologists unveil a 2,700-year-old leather saddle, potentially the oldest in the world, found in a woman's tomb in China.

# Hubble's Ongoing Challenges: What's Ahead for the Space Telescope?

The Hubble Space Telescope faces operational issues, prompting NASA's efforts to activate backup systems while investigations continue.

Integrating Zigbee2Mqtt into Home Assistant for Smart Control

Learn how to set up Zigbee2Mqtt in Home Assistant to manage smart devices without third-party reliance.

Unlocking LinkedIn: A Guide for Introverts to Thrive Online

Discover how introverts can effectively navigate LinkedIn while maximizing their energy and business growth.