(ORDO NEWS) — This is the worst nightmare of a space mission: the loss of communication with the apparatus. On July 21, Voyager 2, nearly 20 billion km from Earth, lost contact with Earth due to a series of scheduled commands that caused the craft to point its antenna 2 degrees away from Earth.
The device continues to work properly, but the data stream goes into space, and does not connect to the Deep Space network. Restoring communications with Voyager 2 is critical to the success of the mission, but all is not lost.
The spacecraft is programmed to reset attitude several times a year to keep the antenna pointed at Earth. The next orientation reset is scheduled for October 15, and if everything goes well, then on this day the control team should again hear a message from the spacecraft.
Until then, Voyager 2 is on a planned trajectory, and the team characterizes the loss of signal as a temporary pause in communications. Nothing indicates any other problems with Voyager 2 other than erroneous commands.
Equipment and history of Voyager 2
The spacecraft is equipped with a 3.7 m high-gain antenna. Communication with the Deep Space Network is carried out via the S-band channel (wavelength 13 cm), as well as in the X-band (wavelength 3.6 cm). At the current distance to the Earth, the spacecraft signals reach in about 17.5 hours. This time increases with distance from the Earth.
Voyager 2 was launched in 1977 and, along with its twin Voyager 1, made huge discoveries of planets and the farthest reaches of the heliosphere. Their images and data have opened up a whole new way of looking at the outer solar system. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are currently exploring space beyond the solar system as part of the Voyager interstellar mission.
Their data help characterize the “limits” of the solar system and where deep space begins. Voyager 2 probably entered interstellar space a few years ago, but it still reports conditions at the “edge” of the solar system.
The future of Voyager 2
Voyager 1 is still communicating with the Deep Space Network at a distance of about 24 billion km from Earth. However, both devices are moving along two completely different trajectories to the stars. They have enough energy to work for several more years (until 2025 a year or so) and transmit information about their surroundings to Earth.
The engineers working on the project figured out how to extend the life of the spacecraft for a few more years by using certain onboard reserves. However, in the end, the spacecraft will become silent, as their
reserves The current Voyager 2 shutdown is giving engineers a taste of what that experience will be like after nearly fifty years of “talking” with these distant spacecraft.
The temporary pause in connection with Voyager 2 is a reminder of the difficulties of space exploration and the importance of reliable communication systems. The Voyager missions have been remarkably successful, providing unprecedented insight into our solar system and its environs. As we continue to explore space, we must continue to develop new technologies and strategies to ensure the safety and success of our missions.
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