Description

Why In News?

NASA deactivated Voyager 1's Plasma Science instrument to save power, aiming to extend the probe's mission till 2027.

About Voyager 1

Launched by NASA in 1977 for a five-year study of Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 remains active in interstellar space.

Mission Overview and Historical Milestones

Launch and Primary Mission: Part of the Voyager program alongside Voyager 2, it utilized a rare "Grand Tour" planetary alignment that occurs once every 175 years, allowing gravity assists to visit multiple planets.

Interstellar Breakthrough (2012): In August 012, Voyager 1 became the first spacecraft to cross the Heliopause—the boundary where the solar wind is stopped by the interstellar medium—entering interstellar space.

The Pale Blue Dot (1990): Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward Earth from 6 billion km away, capturing the image that highlights Earth's vulnerability and isolation in the cosmos.

Technical Architecture: Power and Communication

Operating a spacecraft nearly 24 billion kilometres away presents unique engineering challenges.

Power Source: It uses Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which convert heat from the natural decay of plutonium-238 into electricity.
Communication: Signals travel at the speed of light but take approximately 22.5 to 23 hours to reach Earth. Communications are handled via the Deep Space Network (DSN), using high-gain antennas.
The Golden Record: Spacecraft carries a gold-plated copper phonograph record containing sounds, images, and greetings from Earth in 55 languages, intended for any extraterrestrial intelligence that might encounter it.

Scientific Contributions

Jovian Discoveries: Discovery of active volcanism on Io (Jupiter’s moon), the first time such activity was seen outside Earth.
Saturnian Insights: Detailed imagery of Saturn's rings and the discovery of complex atmospheric structures on Titan.
The Interstellar Medium: Providing the first direct measurements of the density of interstellar plasma and the strength of the magnetic field outside the Sun's influence.

Current Status (2026)

The spacecraft is in "extended mission" mode. NASA has begun powering down non-essential heaters and instruments to stretch the remaining battery life, hoping to maintain communication until 2027-2030.

Source: SPACE

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the powering of deep space missions like Voyager 1, consider the following statements regarding Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs):

1. They generate electricity by capturing solar energy using highly sensitive photovoltaic cells.

2. They rely on the heat generated from the natural radioactive decay of elements like plutonium-238.

3. ISRO has successfully collaborated with BARC to test a Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU) for Chandrayaan-3.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) do not use solar energy or photovoltaic cells. Instead, they use a "thermocouple" to convert heat directly into electricity through the Seebeck effect.

Statement 2 is Correct: RTGs rely on the thermal energy produced by the natural radioactive decay of unstable isotopes. Plutonium-238 is the preferred fuel because of its long half-life (87.7 years) and high heat density, providing reliable power for decades.

Statement 3 is Correct: In a significant step toward deep-space autonomy, ISRO, in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), successfully tested a 1-watt Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU) on the Propulsion Module of Chandrayaan-3. This technology is a precursor to full-scale Indian RTGs for future planetary missions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Launched by NASA in 1977, Voyager 1 is a deep-space probe originally intended to study Jupiter and Saturn. It is now the most distant human-made object, operating in interstellar space nearly 24 billion kilometers from Earth.

Because solar panels are useless in the darkness of deep space, Voyager 1 uses Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). These devices generate electricity by converting the heat released from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium-238.

The heliopause is the boundary where the solar wind emitted by our Sun is stopped by the interstellar medium. Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to cross this boundary into interstellar space in August 2012.