NASA has announced that it has lost contact with its Voyager 2 probe, which is currently billions of miles away from Earth. The space agency revealed that the probe stopped receiving commands or sending data after it was sent the wrong command last month. The mistake caused the spacecraft to tilt its antenna two degrees away from Earth. NASA hopes that communication will resume when the probe is due to reset in October.
Voyager 2 is currently more than 12.3 billion miles away from Earth, hurtling through interstellar space at an estimated speed of 34,390mph. Since July 21, the probe has been unable to receive commands or send back data to NASA’s Deep Space Network. The agency’s huge dish in Canberra, Australia, is currently attempting to detect any stray signals from Voyager 2. It takes over 18 hours for a signal to reach Earth from such a distance. The antenna will also send the correct command to Voyager 2’s area in the hopes of making contact with the probe.
In the meantime, Voyager 2 is programmed to reset its orientation multiple times each year to keep its antenna pointing at Earth. The next reset is scheduled for October 15, and NASA believes that it will enable communication to resume. The spacecraft is expected to remain on its planned trajectory through the universe, carrying its science instruments.
Voyager 2, along with its twin Voyager 1, is the only spacecraft to operate outside the heliosphere, the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields generated by the Sun. Voyager 2 flew by Neptune and Uranus, while Voyager 1 is currently nearly 15 billion miles away from Earth, making it the most distant spacecraft humanity has ever sent.
Each Voyager spacecraft carries a Golden Record, which contains sounds, pictures, and messages from Earth intended to communicate a story of our world to potential extraterrestrial life.
Despite the communication setback, NASA remains hopeful that contact with Voyager 2 will be reestablished in October, allowing the probe to continue its mission of exploring the universe.
What caused the communication breakdown between NASA and the Voyager 2 probe?
NASA’s Voyager 2 probe, currently billions of miles away from Earth, has lost contact with the space agency. The communication breakdown occurred after the probe received an incorrect command last month, causing its antenna to tilt away from Earth. NASA is optimistic that communication will resume when the probe undergoes a scheduled reset in October.
Voyager 2 is currently hurtling through interstellar space at a speed of 34,390mph, a staggering distance of more than 12.3 billion miles from Earth. Since July 21, it has been unable to receive commands or transmit data back to NASA’s Deep Space Network. The agency’s dish in Canberra, Australia, is currently scanning for any stray signals from the probe, with a signal taking over 18 hours to reach Earth. Additionally, the antenna will transmit the correct command in an effort to establish contact with Voyager 2.
In the meantime, Voyager 2 is programmed to reset its orientation multiple times per year to ensure its antenna remains pointed towards Earth. The next reset is scheduled for October 15, and NASA believes it will enable communication to resume. The spacecraft will continue on its planned trajectory through the universe, carrying out its scientific mission.
Voyager 2, together with its twin Voyager 1, is the only spacecraft operating outside the heliosphere, the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun. Voyager 2 has already flown by Neptune and Uranus, while Voyager 1 is even further away from Earth, at a distance of nearly 15 billion miles, making it the most remote spacecraft ever launched by humanity.
Both Voyager spacecraft carry a Golden Record, containing sounds, images, and messages from Earth, with the purpose of communicating our world’s story to potential extraterrestrial life.
Although contact with Voyager 2 is currently disrupted, NASA remains hopeful that communication will be reestablished in October, allowing the probe to continue its mission of exploring the universe.
Oh no! Hopefully, NASA can reestablish contact with Voyager 2 soon. Command errors happen, but it’s always nerve-wracking when we lose communication with our space probes.
Oh no! The unexpected loss of contact with Voyager 2 probe is a setback for NASA. Let’s hope they quickly resolve the command error and reestablish communication with the remarkable spacecraft.