For 45 years, the Voyager 1 space probe and its Voyager 2 twin have been exploring interstellar space to collect and transmit to the Nasa lots of scientific data. Currently located 23.3 billion kilometers from Earth, Voyager 1 seems to be behaving abnormally, however, as reported CNN this Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Indeed, the probe’s articulation and attitude control system, otherwise known as AACS, provides NASA with information that does not correspond to what Voyager 1 actually does. If the AACS seems to be working, scientists have may have found that the data readings from the instrument are random, if not impossible. However, the ship did not go into “safety mode”, a function which, according to the American media, allows only essential operations to be authorized while any problems are diagnosed.
Voyager 2 runs smoothly
In this case, the signal emitted by the probe is stronger than ever, which seems to mean that the antenna of the latter is still facing the Earth, a good sign. Now, the Voyager 1 team is trying to find the origin of the malfunction, which ultimately could affect how long the spacecraft can collect and transmit data.
In a press release, the head of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 projects confided that“Such mystery is normal at this stage of the Voyager mission.” Both probes are nearly 45 years old, exceeding the original expectations of mission planners. In addition, interstellar space subjects these vessels to complex environmental conditions, including a high level of radiation. Located 19.5 billion kilometers from Earth, Voyager 2 continues to operate smoothly, however, providing scientists with valuable information about the heliosphere.