Leaving The Heliosphere

[KG4CGC]

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/06/get-ready-because-voyager-i-is-this-close-to-leaving-our-solar-system/258456/

I can't quote anything specific, it's all really quite fascinating. This is just one of those must reads. I'm still taking it all in, mouth agape.

[NQ6U]

Been watching the progress of Voyager I through the heliopause for some time now. Pretty cool stuff.

[NA4BH]

Another amazing thing is that it's still working.

[NQ6U]

Another amazing thing is that it's still working.

They used good toobs.

[NA4BH]

With haaandles.

[NQ6U]

Since we're hams:


The radio communication system of Voyager 1 was designed to be used up to and beyond the limits of the solar system during the extremely-long flight of this space probe. The communication system includes a 3.7 meter diameter parabolic dish high-gain antenna (see diagram) to send and receive radio waves via the three Deep Space Network stations on the Earth. These modulated waves are placed in the S-band (about 13 cm in wavelength) and X-band (about 3.6 cm in wavelength) which provided a bit rate as high as 115.2 kilobits per second when Voyager 1 was at the distance of Jupiter from the Earth, and many fewer kilobits per second at larger distances.

(From Wikipedia)

Spacecraft power is by RTG, about 150 watts.

[kb2vxa]

"Well you know actually Voyager has had a lot of those moments as we flew by Uranus."

[KC2UGV]

Since we're hams:



(From Wikipedia)

Spacecraft power is by RTG, about 150 watts.

And, I think it's down to about 70W right now, even after all this time. Wow, is all I can say.

On a side note:
Symphonies of the Planets: NASA Voyager Recordings (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N7R16E/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wnypro-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002N7R16E). It's quite relaxing, I often listen to it at night.