The sound of the earth from the depths of the universe, 24 billion kilometers from the earth, has long been adrift in the lonely universe. This sound comes from the record on the Voyager 1 probe, which records human civilization and wisdom. Recently, however, the Voyager 1 probe malfunctioned again and lost communication with Earth. This anomaly begs the question of why an experimental project can run over such a long distance for 46 years and fail so frequentlyIn order to solve this mystery, we will start with the design background of the probe, the operation of scientific instruments, and the exploration process of the probe, and analyze the miracles and dilemmas of the Voyager 1 probe one by one.
The Voyager 1 probe, one of NASA's early programs to explore the outer solar system, was launched in 1977. It carried a copper, gold-plated disc containing the Voice of the Earth's ** and message. This record has been designed to be extremely durable, and the sound quality will remain the same even after 1 billion years. However, just 24 billion kilometers from Earth, the Voyager 1 probe lost contact, and communication with Earth takes 45 hours in just one round trip. This is not the first time that the Voyager 1 probe has malfunctioned, as back in May 2022, it lost contact with the ground due to a malfunction, and it took tireless efforts by NASA engineers to repair it. So why does the Voyager 1 probe fail so frequently?
By design, the Voyager 1 probe had a lifespan of only 5 years, but today, 46 years later, it is still miraculously running normally. That's because Voyager 1 was designed with human ingenuity and attention in mind. It was part of the sailors' program and took advantage of the new technology of the time, gravitational acceleration. Although the detector is not large, it contains a variety of instruments such as high-gain antennas, nuclear batteries, electronic instrument compartments, radio and plasma wave antennas, etc. In addition, the Voyager 1 probe coincided with a once-in-176 planetary geometry, which allows it to be accelerated by planetary gravity during exploration and requires very little fuel for course correction. Over the past few decades, the Voyager 1 probe has successfully probed Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and provided high-definition** and data.
The Voyager 1 probe is not just a spacecraft carrying the Sound of the Earth, it is also a great contribution to deep space exploration. Through the operation of various instruments, it shows us the mystery and wonder of the universe.
1. High-gain antenna: maintain communication with the earth
The Voyager 1 probe is equipped with a high-gain antenna, which is key to maintaining communication with Earth. Through the connection with the control center on Earth, the scientist can communicate the instructions to the probe and receive the data back. However, due to the long distance, communication with the ground takes a lot of time. The current disappearance has made communication with Voyager 1 even more difficult.
2. Nuclear battery: provide energy for the detector
The Voyager 1 probe relies on nuclear batteries for energy to keep it running. This nuclear battery provides electricity for the detector's instruments by converting radioactive material into electricity and storing it in the battery. Compared with traditional solar cells, this energy supply method is more suitable for the environment outside the solar system, allowing the probe to continue to operate in places where the sun does not shine.
3. Electronic instrument cabin: record and transmit data
Voyager 1's electronic instrument bay is one of the most important parts of the probe, recording and transmitting the data collected by the probe. These data, including information such as cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and particles, are transmitted back to Earth for analysis and research. However, with the emergence of failures, the probe was unable to transmit data back to Earth in time, which deprived scientists of a window into the mysteries of the universe.
4. Radio and plasma wave antennas: signals to detect the universe
The radio and plasma wave antennas on the Voyager 1 probe are used to detect signals in the universe. By receiving electromagnetic wave signals, scientists can obtain important information about the formation of the universe, the movement of planets, and more. These antennas played an important role in the exploration of Voyager 1, unveiling the mysteries of the universe for mankind.
The Voyager 1 probe is a symbol of humanity's courage to traverse the long universe voyage without fear of danger. However, the failure has raised questions about the longevity of the detector, which may have exceeded its limits.
1. Sailing away from the earth
Over the past few decades, the Voyager 1 probe has traveled to Neptune, 24 billion kilometers from Earth. This voyage made it the farthest man-made object ever to Earth. However, sailing so far from Earth also presented Voyager 1 with great challenges. It needs to face various uncertainties in the universe alone, such as space dust, radiation, etc., which greatly increases the risk of failure of the probe.
2. Operation and failure of scientific instruments
The scientific instruments of the Voyager 1 probe are a window into deep space, however, the operation of these instruments comes with risks and challenges. During prolonged space voyages, these instruments are constantly exposed to harsh environments and can be affected by factors such as radiation, temperature changes, etc. All of these factors can have an impact on the proper operation of the instrument, which in turn can lead to failures. Especially at such a great distance from Earth, it becomes more difficult to repair the fault.
3. The crystallization of human wisdom
Despite the frequent failures of the Voyager 1 probe, its existence and continued operation is the result of human ingenuity. Voyager 1 was designed with the most advanced technology of the time, taking full advantage of the gravitational acceleration of the planets to complete the exploration of four gas planets with minimal fuel consumption. This design allows Voyager 1 to achieve greater results with limited resources. In addition, the tireless efforts of NASA engineers are also key to the probe's ability to repair after a failure occurs. Working around the clock, they solved technical problems that allowed Voyager 1 to continue its mission and produce scientific results.
The journey of the Voyager 1 probe is full of wonders and dilemmas. It is a symbol of mankind's exploration of deep space and the infinite pursuit of the unknown. Despite the probe's frequent failures and loss of contact with Earth in the distant universe, its existence and operation are still the crystallization of human ingenuity and courageous exploration. Whether or not Voyager 1 can make contact with Earth again, whether it can be repaired or not, humanity's quest for the unknown will never stop.