Science & Tech · Space · 2 hrs ago
Voyager 1 is set to reach one light-day from Earth
NASA’s Voyager 1 is expected to reach one light-day from Earth on November 18 at 5:18 a.m.
Eastern time.
One light-day is about 16.09 billion miles, and a radio signal will take 24 hours to travel each way.
That means a message and reply will take about 48 hours, a delay the mission team must account for when communicating with the probe.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 has travelled farther from Earth than any other human-made object and has been in interstellar space since 2012.
Its measurements help scientists study the space beyond the Sun’s protective bubble, including changes in plasma and magnetic fields.
The ageing spacecraft has only two active scientific instruments, and its team is conserving power as its plutonium supply dwindles.
The one-light-day milestone is due on November 18, while Voyager 1 continues sending data that scientists use to investigate the edge of the Sun’s influence.
Voyager 1 is set to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth on November 18 at 5:18 a.m. EST.
At that distance, a radio signal will take 24 hours to travel from Earth to the spacecraft and another 24 hours for a response to return.
The spacecraft is the farthest-traveling human-made object and has been exploring interstellar space since 2012.
Its signals help scientists study plasma, magnetic fields and the Sun’s influence on nearby interstellar space.
Only two of its scientific instruments remain active as NASA’s team manages its dwindling power supply.
- Who
- NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft and the team that operates the mission.
- What
- Voyager 1 is expected to reach one light-day from Earth, about 16.09 billion miles away.
- When
- November 18 at 5:18 a.m. EST.
- Where
- In space, one light-day from Earth.
- Why
- The distance marks how far the spacecraft has traveled; its signals also help scientists study interstellar space and the Sun’s influence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Voyager 1 launched with 10 operational scientific instruments.
Voyager 1 entered interstellar space.
Voyager 1 is expected to reach one light-day from Earth.
- Distance
- One light-day, or about 16.09 billion miles
- Expected milestone
- November 18 at 5:18 a.m. EST
- Launch
- September 1977
- Interstellar space
- Voyager 1 has been in the region since 2012
- Active instruments
- Two of the spacecraft’s scientific instruments remain active
What people are saying
In my mind the fun is receiving a signal back from the Voyager, a light-day away.
a pretty incredible endeavor