Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft carrying Turkish messages will be shut down soon

The Voyager spacecraft, designed to study Jupiter and Saturn and launched into space in 1977, began to run out of battery. When the spacecraft was first designed, it was estimated that the batteries would last for 5 years. However, contrary to expectations, both spacecraft have been continuing their journey in space for about 45 years. Moreover, they also carry a Turkish voice message during their travels.

The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft have earned the title of farthest spacecraft from Earth during their 45-year journey. Spacecraft managed to go beyond the heliosphere at the edge of the Solar System so far away. In other words, Voyager 1 is 23.3 billion kilometers from Earth, and the Voyager 2 spacecraft is about 19.3 billion kilometers away.

Voyager 2 entered the interstellar medium in 2018. But neither spacecraft is considered outside the Solar System. Because the boundary of the Solar System is considered to be the Oort cloud, which is made up of water, ice, ammonia and methane. These two spacecraft have not yet passed the Oort cloud. NASA predicts that Voyager 2 will take about 300 years to reach even the inner edge of the Oort cloud, and an estimated 30,000 years to go beyond.

The two satellite vehicles are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generator technology. The power supplied by generators is decreasing by about 4 watts each year. This means that the devices on the spacecraft are turned off one by one. The number of devices working in Viyager 1 is 4, while in Voyager 2 this number is 5. According to calculations, it is thought that the power of spacecraft will run out in 2025.

Linda Spilker, a member of the Voyager crew, “If all goes really well, we can extend these missions to maybe the 2030s. It’s all battery dependent.” made a statement.

DEAR OUR TURKISH SPEAKING FRIENDS, HAPPY YOUR SHERIFF IN THE MORNING

Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts carried a voice message recorded in Turkish as “Dear Turkish-speaking friends, good morning sheriffs”. The message in question is Prof. Dr. Peten is voiced by Ian Kuniholm.

The data sent by the spacecraft so far provide striking information about the role of magnetic fields in the universe.

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