As humanity’s furthest reach into the Universe so far, the two Voyager spacecraft’s well-being is of utmost importance to many. Although we know that there will be an end to any science…
There are currently five science investigation teams participating in the VIM. The science teams for these investigations are currently collecting and evaluating data on the strength and orientation of the Sun’s magnetic field; the composition, direction and energy spectra of the solar wind particles and interstellar cosmic rays; the strength of radio emissions that are thought to be originating at the heliopause, beyond which is interstellar space; and the distribution of hydrogen within the outer heliosphere.
There are 4 operating instruments on-board the Voyager 1 spacecraft. These instruments directly support the five science investigations teams. The Planetary Radio Astronomy Investigation (PRA) is no longer working on the Voyager 1 spacecraft and the Ultraviolet Spectrometer Subsystem (UVS) is no longer working on Voyager 1 or Voyager 2.
Yes the data is valuable for research. You and I may not understand any of it, but its useful to someone.
As for repairing from a distance, that thing has been traveling for 46 years and gone far. For reference, it passed Neptune back in 1989.
It would take many years for a new probe to reach those distances, so if it can be repaired, it shall.
Hypothetically, lets say it only takes 30 years for a new probe with updated tech to reach where Voyager 2 is now. If V2 died today, thats half of someone’s career spent waiting for the new probe to arrive. Multiply that by everyone using the probe for research and you have a ton of wasted potential.
I’m aware that sending something to do the repairs isn’t an option, my question was whether it’s worth it (and apparently it is) or if it’s more an experiment about long distance repairs which by itself is very expressive already.
I’m not sure why I’m downvoted. Maybe I worded my question badly or it’s because it was a question I could have googled on my own. I don’t know and neither do I care. I don’t think you downvoted me, if it sounded that way. Just now saw it and wondered why
Just curious: is the data of value for research or is it more like “look at us, we can repair from a distance”?
https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/science/
Yes the data is valuable for research. You and I may not understand any of it, but its useful to someone. As for repairing from a distance, that thing has been traveling for 46 years and gone far. For reference, it passed Neptune back in 1989.
It would take many years for a new probe to reach those distances, so if it can be repaired, it shall.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_2
Hypothetically, lets say it only takes 30 years for a new probe with updated tech to reach where Voyager 2 is now. If V2 died today, thats half of someone’s career spent waiting for the new probe to arrive. Multiply that by everyone using the probe for research and you have a ton of wasted potential.
I’m aware that sending something to do the repairs isn’t an option, my question was whether it’s worth it (and apparently it is) or if it’s more an experiment about long distance repairs which by itself is very expressive already.
I’m not sure why I’m downvoted. Maybe I worded my question badly or it’s because it was a question I could have googled on my own. I don’t know and neither do I care. I don’t think you downvoted me, if it sounded that way. Just now saw it and wondered why
It’s the only instrumentation we have at that distance that can measure things like solar irradiance.
Interesting question though, which sent me down a rabbit hole to see the capabilities of the instrumentation.
I like to follow it through space