Deep Space Network

"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
05/05/2017 at 14:53 • Filed to: Spacelopnik

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NASA’s Deep Space Network keeps track of a large number of probes out there. Spacecraft are at the moon, Mars, Saturn and in deep space. I love the fact that they check in on Voyager 1 and 2 from time to time. Voyager 2 is 31 light hours from earth. Voyager 1 is in interstellar space and 38 light hours out.

You can see how far out they are here.

https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/where/

DISCUSSION (12)

Chariotoflove > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 15:02

So cool. It’s important for The Creator to keep track of V’ger.

f86sabre > Chariotoflove
05/05/2017 at 15:05

Kinja'd!!!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 15:23

where in the universe is Carmen San DeVoyager

Mercedes Streeter > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 15:24

I think the more amazing thing is how long the Voyagers are chugging along. Voyager 1 was expected to die in 2015, but to the surprise of everyone, the darn thing just keeps going. The goal post was moved from 2015 to 2020, and now it’s 2025 to 2030.

Out of all of our space programs, Voyager is one of the most fascinating to me. It’s bewildering to think that both Voyagers are 113 AU (2) and 137 AU (1) away and still chatting to Earth.

And on top of that, we have robot cars driving around on Mars, one of them with amnesia! (Opportunity)

user314 > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 15:43

I’m sure the distances involved play a major factor too, but it’s wild when you compare the signal strength of Voyager and the MRO:

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160 b/sec?! That’s roughly 12 characters a second. Closed Captioning is 1kb/sec, or 100 characters a second, for reference.

Grindintosecond > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 16:31

Amazes me how futuristic we are (interstellar exploration) yet how archaic of a level we are at the same time (only one 40 year old craft has made it that far???)

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Chariotoflove
05/05/2017 at 19:33

Technically, V’ger does not exist yet. It starts life as Voyager SIX.

Kinja'd!!!

Chariotoflove > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
05/05/2017 at 20:17

That’s just the one they made a movie about. Who knows what’ll happen to the others out there that will travel even farther.

artiofab > Grindintosecond
05/05/2017 at 22:02

It’s tough to go that fast. There are two spacecraft that went past Jupiter earlier than the Voyagers (the Pioneers) but they were going at slower speeds; as of early 2011 the four of them (and New Horizons) were here :

Kinja'd!!!

Although the exact place of the Pioneers was a bit of a guess because those craft are not detectable from Earth anymore.

qwertt > f86sabre
05/05/2017 at 22:07

Hello JPL - Voyager 1 (here): I apologize for misspelling xenomorph in my last few transmissions...znned Hal(pp)...

f86sabre > qwertt
05/05/2017 at 22:25

“The enjoyed the album and directions and will be joining you for dinner shortly.”

CTSenVy > Mercedes Streeter
05/05/2017 at 23:37

“And on top of that, we have robot cars driving around on Mars, one of them with amnesia! (Opportunity)“

I would love to see that movie. NASA needs to sell the rights.