NASA is listening for any peep from Voyager 2 after losing contact with the spacecraft billions of miles away. Marcia Dunn, an AP Aerospace Writer, reported on July 31, 2023, at 4:05 PM ET that NASA’s huge dish antenna in Canberra, Australia, is on the lookout for any stray signals from Voyager 2, which is currently more than 12 billion miles away.
The loss of contact with Voyager 2 occurred after flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command that caused the spacecraft’s antenna to shift 2% away from Earth. While this might seem like a small adjustment, it was enough to cut communications. Now, NASA is working tirelessly to reestablish contact.
NASA’s Deep Space Network in Canberra, Australia, is playing a crucial role in this endeavor. Although it’s considered a long shot, the antenna is actively scanning for any stray signals from Voyager 2. However, due to the vast distance between the spacecraft and Earth, it takes more than 18 hours for a signal to reach us. Despite the challenges, NASA remains hopeful and plans to also send the correct command to Voyager 2’s vicinity in the hopes that it will hit its mark.
If these efforts prove unsuccessful, NASA will have to wait until October for an automatic spacecraft reset that should restore communication. This is a significant setback, considering Voyager 2’s remarkable history.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 was designed to explore the outer planets just a couple of weeks ahead of its identical twin, Voyager 1. While Voyager 2 has faced some challenges along its journey, it has continued to provide valuable data to scientists. Currently, it is over 12 billion miles away from Earth.
Voyager 1, on the other hand, is still in touch with Earth and holds the title of humanity’s most distant spacecraft. It is nearly 15 billion miles away, making it a testament to the incredible achievements of the Voyager missions.
As NASA continues to listen for any sign of Voyager 2, the space agency remains optimistic that contact will be reestablished soon. The exploration and data provided by these spacecraft have been invaluable, and scientists eagerly await the day when they can reconnect with Voyager 2 and resume the mission.