Voyager 1
ActiveHumanity's most distant spacecraft and first human-made object to enter interstellar space. After revolutionary flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 continues its eternal journey carrying the Golden Record - a message from Earth to the cosmos.
Type
Deep Space Probe
Launch Date
09/05/1977
Location
Interstellar Space
Latest Scientific Discovery
Live Mission Data
Live Position Data
Mission Achievements
- ✓First spacecraft to enter interstellar space (August 25, 2012)
- ✓Most distant human-made object from Earth
- ✓Discovered active volcanoes on Io (Jupiter's moon) - first beyond Earth
- ✓Discovered Jupiter's complex ring system
- ✓Detailed images of Saturn's rings revealing intricate structure
- ✓First close-up images of Titan showing thick atmosphere
- ✓Operating for over 47 years - longest operating spacecraft
- ✓Traveled over 25 billion kilometers from Earth
- ✓Confirmed the heliopause boundary at 121 AU from the Sun
Mission Timeline
Mission Timeline & Milestones
Sep 5, 1977
Launch
Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Mar 5, 1979
Jupiter Encounter
Closest approach to Jupiter, discovered volcanic activity on Io
Nov 12, 1980
Saturn Encounter
Detailed study of Saturn, its rings, and moons
Feb 14, 1990
Pale Blue Dot
Took famous photo of Earth from 6 billion km away
Feb 17, 1998
Most Distant Spacecraft
Overtook Pioneer 10 as most distant human-made object
Dec 16, 2004
Termination Shock
Crossed the termination shock at 94 AU from Sun
Aug 25, 2012
Entered Interstellar Space
First human-made object to leave the heliosphere
Nov 28, 2017
Thrusters Reactivated
Fired backup thrusters for first time in 37 years
2025 (Est)
Power Depletion
Expected to lose power for communications
Mission Objectives
- ▸Complete the Grand Tour of the outer planets
- ▸Study Jupiter and Saturn systems in detail
- ▸Investigate the boundary of the solar system
- ▸Explore the interstellar medium
- ▸Carry humanity's message via the Golden Record
- ▸Study cosmic rays and magnetic fields in interstellar space
- ▸Continue transmitting data as long as power permits (until ~2025)
Scientific Instruments
- •Cosmic Ray Subsystem (CRS): Measures high-energy particles
- •Low-Energy Charged Particle (LECP): Detects ions and electrons
- •Magnetometer (MAG): Measures magnetic field strength and direction
- •Plasma Wave System (PWS): Detects plasma wave emissions
- •Cameras (disabled): Took over 67,000 images including the famous "Pale Blue Dot"
- •Golden Record: 12-inch gold-plated copper disk with sounds and images from Earth