NASA for the first time in 37 years, launched the backup engines Voyager 1. They will allow to keep in touch with the device for another two to three years

NASA for the first time in 37 years, launched the backup engines Voyager 1. They will allow to keep in touch with the device for another two to three years

September 5 this year was exactly 40 years since the launch of the interplanetary probe "Voyager 1", the first man-made object that left the solar system. He has already flown from the Earth to an unthinkable 20 billion kilometers and every day this distance increases - the probe flies at a speed slightly above 60 thousand kilometers per hour. Where is the device now, you can see on the site of the mission https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/ and in a separate application NASA https://eyes.jpl.nasa.gov/eyes-on-voyager.html

A few days ago, NASA reported on the recent successful testing of Voyager 1 backup engines, which they plan to use instead of worn-out main engines to correct the position of the probe's antenna. The last time back-up engines were included in 1980, after which they were switched off.

Note that the mission team woke up the backup engines after a 40-year hibernation on November 28, but reported this only now. They conducted several tests, which showed that the backup engines, despite long years of idle time without work, work perfectly and perfectly cope with the task of adjusting the position of the probe.

NASA noted that since January 2018, all further maneuvers of the probe will be made using backup engines, which should allow the device to remain in touch with the Earth for another two to three years. Recall, the signal to the spacecraft is now 19 hours 35 minutes and 27 seconds, and this time is constantly increasing.

In the future, NASA plans to transfer to backup engines and Voyager 2, which soon should also go into interstellar space.

Source: NASA