5 spacecraft that successfully reached the edge of the solar system

2. Voyager 2

The Voyager 2 spacecraft is the twin of Voyager 1 and was launched just 16 days apart. Both of these probes fly past planets outside the solar system.

Until, finally, it passes the farthest limit of the heliosphere, which is the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere that separates the solar system from the interstellar space. Both Voyagers have enough electrical power and fuel to continue their work until at least 2030.

In fact, if these two probes stop communicating with the Earth forever. Voyager will continue to accelerate towards the stars.

Voyager 2 is drifting and alone in the darkness of space, after leaving the outer edge of our solar system in November 2018. Voyager 2 with Earth is currently 19.9 billion KM from Earth.

This NASA spacecraft was the first vehicle to observe the planet Neptune. Voyager 2 passed about 4,950 kilometers above Neptune’s north pole in 1977.

3. Pioneer 10

The Pioneer 10 spacecraft was launched on March 2, 1972. This spacecraft was NASA’s first mission to explore outer space.

The mission was successful and set a series of records unlike any other robotic spacecraft to date. Pioneer 10 is recorded as the first spacecraft to fly past Mars, an asteroid and Jupiter.

This vehicle is also the first technology to use electric power that comes entirely from nuclear energy. This probe was originally designed for a 21-month mission to fly past Jupiter.

It turns out that the Pioneer 10 lasted more than 30 years. Pioneer 10 sent its last signal to Earth in January 2003 from a distance of 12.23 billion kilometers.

This spacecraft crossed Saturn’s orbit in February 1976. In fact, it recorded data showing that Jupiter’s magnetic tail was 800 million kilometers long.