Voyager 1
Voyager in Interstellar Space Waiting for groundbreaking results on an object that has been sent into space can take up to decades. Fortunately, for the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the results are in! Since the Voyager 1 launched in 1977, there has finally been evidence that detects its new whereabouts, which is in interstellar space. Interstellar space can be otherwise known as outside the heliosphere, and the heliosphere is also considered the boundary of our solar system. In relation to Earth, Voyager 1 is 11.6 billion miles out, and in relation to the Sun, it is 125 AU out. So basically what researchers have concluded, is that Voyager 1 is no longer in our solar system.
However, it is hard to be positive of Voyager 1’s whereabouts considering its plasma science experiment, or PSL, does not function properly. If the PSL were functioning correctly, it would be able to measure the electron density of space plasma. Therefore, since the density of the atmosphere inside our solar system has a different density of the atmosphere outside our atmosphere, the PSL would have confirmed Voyager 1’s exact whereabouts.
The Voyager does however have two functioning antennas that detected abnormal vibrations, leading scientists to believe its debut into interstellar space. Those same two antenna have also recently detected oscillations (variations in magnitude or position) that suggest the surrounding plasma was cold and dense. Scientist Ed Stone addresses this information to be “key evidence” in knowing that the Voyager 1 is in interstellar space and outside of our solar system.
Unfortunately, there is still uncertainty on what is exactly going on out there with the Voyager 1. But luckily for us, scientists are hoping that the Voyager 2, which was launched the same year as Voyager 1 and actually has a functioning PSL, will be useful in making more accurate and groundbreaking discoveries.
However, it is hard to be positive of Voyager 1’s whereabouts considering its plasma science experiment, or PSL, does not function properly. If the PSL were functioning correctly, it would be able to measure the electron density of space plasma. Therefore, since the density of the atmosphere inside our solar system has a different density of the atmosphere outside our atmosphere, the PSL would have confirmed Voyager 1’s exact whereabouts.
The Voyager does however have two functioning antennas that detected abnormal vibrations, leading scientists to believe its debut into interstellar space. Those same two antenna have also recently detected oscillations (variations in magnitude or position) that suggest the surrounding plasma was cold and dense. Scientist Ed Stone addresses this information to be “key evidence” in knowing that the Voyager 1 is in interstellar space and outside of our solar system.
Unfortunately, there is still uncertainty on what is exactly going on out there with the Voyager 1. But luckily for us, scientists are hoping that the Voyager 2, which was launched the same year as Voyager 1 and actually has a functioning PSL, will be useful in making more accurate and groundbreaking discoveries.