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Missions Encyclopedia Entry 1777062125

** The **Voyager 1** and **Voyager 2** spacecraft are a pair of twin space probes launched by NASA in 1977 to study the outer Solar System and beyond, becoming the most distant human-made objects in space. ## Overview The **Voyager 1** and **Voyager 2** spacecraft are part of NASA's Voyager program, a series of space missions designed to explore the outer Solar System and beyond. Launched in 1977, these twin spacecraft were created to study the outer planets, their moons, and the heliosphere, the region of space influenced by the Sun. The Voyager spacecraft were designed to take advantage of a rare alignment of the outer planets, allowing them to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in a single mission. After completing their primary mission, the Voyager spacecraft continued on an interstellar trajectory, becoming the most distant human-made objects in space. The Voyager spacecraft were built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and were launched on separate Atlas-Centaur rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Voyager 1 was launched on September 5, 1977, and Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. The spacecraft were designed to be powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert the heat generated by radioactive decay into electricity. This allowed the spacecraft to operate for extended periods without the need for solar panels or other forms of power. ## History/Background The Voyager program was conceived in the early 1970s as a follow-up to NASA's Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 missions, which had visited Jupiter and Saturn in the early 1970s. The Voyager program was designed to take advantage of a rare alignment of the outer planets, which would allow the spacecraft to visit multiple planets in a single mission. The Voyager spacecraft were designed to be more robust and capable than their Pioneer predecessors, with a greater emphasis on scientific instruments and a longer mission duration. The Voyager spacecraft were also designed to be equipped with a Golden Record, a gold-plated copper record containing sounds and images of Earth and its inhabitants. The Golden Record was intended to serve as a message to any extraterrestrial life form that might encounter the spacecraft, providing a snapshot of human culture and technology. ## Key Information The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft have achieved numerous milestones and set several records during their mission. Some of the key facts and achievements include: * **Closest approach to Jupiter:** Voyager 1 flew within 217,000 miles (349,000 kilometers) of Jupiter's cloud tops on March 5, 1979. * **Closest approach to Saturn:** Voyager 2 flew within 63,000 miles (101,000 kilometers) of Saturn's cloud tops on August 25, 1981. * **Uranus flyby:** Voyager 2 flew within 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) of Uranus on January 24, 1986. * **Neptune flyby:** Voyager 2 flew within 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) of Neptune on August 25, 1989. * **Interstellar medium:** Voyager 1 entered the interstellar medium, the region of space outside the heliosphere, on August 25, 2012. * **Most distant human-made object:** Voyager 1 is now the most distant human-made object in space, with a distance of over 14 billion miles (22.5 billion kilometers) from Earth. ## Significance The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft have significantly advanced our understanding of the outer Solar System and the heliosphere. The spacecraft have provided a wealth of scientific data on the planets, their moons, and the interplanetary medium. The Voyager spacecraft have also served as a technological demonstration of the capabilities of space exploration, paving the way for future missions to the outer Solar System and beyond. The Voyager spacecraft have also had a profound impact on human culture and society. The Golden Record, which contains sounds and images of Earth and its inhabitants, has served as a message to extraterrestrial life forms, providing a snapshot of human culture and technology. The Voyager spacecraft have also inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers, motivating them to pursue careers in space exploration and scientific research. INFOBOX: - **Name:** Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 - **Type:** Space probes - **Date:** 1977 - **Location:** Outer Solar System and interstellar medium - **Known For:** Most distant human-made objects in space TAGS: **Voyager program**, **Space exploration**, **Outer Solar System**, **Heliosphere**, **Interstellar medium**, **Golden Record**, **Space probes**, **NASA**, **Jupiter**, **Saturn**, **Uranus**, **Neptune**