In a significant development for NASA, the Voyager 1 probe has started sending usable information back to ground control after a period of sending gibberish, according to the US space agency. Despite receiving commands from controllers, the spacecraft had stopped sending readable data to Earth on November 14, 2023. However, in March, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered a malfunctioning chip was causing the issue and implemented a coding fix that worked within the spacecraft’s limited memory constraints.
The agency stated that Voyager 1 is now providing data on the health and status of its engineering systems, with plans to begin sending scientific data once again. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 became the first human-made spacecraft to enter the interstellar medium in 2012, and is currently over 15 billion miles away from Earth. Messages sent from Earth take about 22.5 hours to reach the spacecraft, which is also carrying a “Golden Record” intended to convey information about Earth to extraterrestrials.
Meanwhile, Voyager 2, which left the solar system in 2018 along with its twin sister spacecraft Voyager 1, also carries symbolic instructions and encoded images and sounds of life on Earth on its Golden Record. These records are expected to continue traveling through the Milky Way potentially for eternity as they journey further away from our solar system. The spacecraft’s power banks are projected to be depleted sometime after 2025.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has stated that both Voyager probes are continuing their missions despite being millions of miles away from home. They provide an incredible amount of scientific data that helps us understand our own planet better while also serving as ambassadors for humanity among other stars in our galaxy.
In conclusion, NASA’s Voyager 1 probe has resumed sending usable information back to ground control after a period of technical difficulties caused by a faulty chip. With plans to send scientific data once again and carrying a “Golden Record” intended for extraterrestrial communication, this mission continues to advance science and understanding of our universe today.
