NASA’s Voyager 2 probe is currently facing communication issues after NASA accidentally pointed its antenna in the wrong direction. The agency admitted on Friday that for over a week, the Voyager 2’s antenna has been pointing two degrees away from Earth, leaving it unable to receive commands or transmit data to NASA’s antenna network.
Fortunately, NASA believes this situation is temporary and will not disrupt Voyager 2’s impressive 46-year journey in space. The probe is programmed to recalibrate its position a few times a year, with the next scheduled reset set for October 15. NASA assures that Voyager 2’s trajectory will remain unchanged despite the current glitch.
Currently, Voyager 2 is approximately 32 billion kilometers away from Earth, and it continues to move further away at a rate of 15 kilometers every second. However, this communication issue does not affect Voyager 1, which is about 24 billion kilometers from Earth and maintains contact with NASA while hurtling at a speed of 17 kilometers per second.
Earlier this year, Voyager 2 underwent electrical system adjustments in the hopes of extending its operational lifespan. If successful, NASA plans to implement similar modifications to Voyager 1.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the Voyager probes have faced technical difficulties. In 2022, Voyager 1 experienced telemetry problems, as it sent back garbled information to Mission Control. Upon investigation, scientists discovered that data was being routed incorrectly by a computer that hadn’t been functional for years. A procedure known as “telesurgery” was carried out to rectify the issue, involving commanding the attitude articulation and control system (AACS) to transmit data correctly. The probe continued its mission after the problem was resolved.
Engineers working on the Voyager probes often analogize the challenges they face to keeping an old car running. Despite having severely outdated technology, the Voyagers manage to keep functioning. However, unlike cars that can be maintained and repaired by hand, the Voyagers are over 20 light hours away from Earth, and communication occurs at a sluggish pace of 160 bits per second.
Even with these communication struggles, NASA remains committed to supporting the Voyager missions, which have provided valuable insights into the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond. The Voyagers continue to serve as a testament to human ingenuity and the quest for knowledge about the vast universe we inhabit.