After months of being lost in space, Nasa has managed to fully regain contact with the Voyager 2 probe. Originally launched in 1977 to explore the mysteries of space, Voyager 2 had its position altered and communication severed in July due to a wrong command being sent. Through the use of an “interstellar shout”, Nasa was able to redirect the probe’s antenna back towards Earth, resulting in a signal being received on Tuesday. This development occurred much earlier than anticipated, as the space agency had initially hoped for a self-reset in October. It took extensive efforts from mission controllers, as well as the utilization of the highest-power transmitter, to make contact with the Voyager 2, which is located billions of miles away from Earth.
The restoration of communication with the Voyager 2 is a significant achievement for Nasa. The probe had been unable to receive commands or transmit data since its communication with the Deep Space Network was severed. However, on 4 August, Nasa confirmed that data had been successfully received from the spacecraft, indicating that it was operating as anticipated. The Voyager 2 is equipped with various scientific instruments and is expected to continue its trajectory through the universe according to its planned mission.
To establish contact with the lost probe, Nasa made use of its powerful radio antennas located around the world. The agency’s Canberra dish in Australia’s capital played a crucial role in detecting the first faint “heartbeat” signal from Voyager 2. By bombarding the area with the correct command, Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory managed to align the antenna with the intended instruction. The Voyager 2 has a reset function programmed multiple times a year to ensure that its antenna remains directed towards Earth. The next reset is scheduled for 15 October, which was previously seen as a final opportunity for communication if previous efforts failed.
The Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, hold the distinction of being the only spacecraft to venture beyond the heliosphere, the protective bubble created by the Sun’s particles and magnetic fields. In 2018 and 2012, Voyager 2 and Voyager 1 respectively entered interstellar space. These probes were specifically designed to explore Jupiter and Saturn, taking advantage of a unique alignment of outer planets that occurs approximately every 176 years. In addition to their groundbreaking discoveries, Voyager 2 made history by flying past Neptune and Uranus, while Voyager 1 has become humanity’s most distant spacecraft, currently residing nearly 15 billion miles away from Earth.
The successful reestablishment of contact with Voyager 2 paves the way for further exploration beyond our solar system. The data collected by the probe has already shed light on the structure of the Solar System, providing valuable insights into the celestial bodies in our cosmic neighborhood. As both Voyager spacecraft continue their journeys through space, they are expected to operate until their power reserves are depleted, likely sometime after 2025.
Nasa’s achievement in reconnecting with the lost Voyager 2 probe signifies the agency’s unwavering commitment to the exploration of space and the pursuit of knowledge about the universe. Through perseverance and cutting-edge technology, Nasa has reestablished communication with a spacecraft that has traveled farther than any other human-made object. This remarkable feat demonstrates both the ingenuity of human beings and the vast potential for future discoveries beyond the confines of our solar system.
