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5 NASA spacecraft that are leaving our solar system for good
Astronomy ^
| 28 Sep, 2020
| Eric Betz
Posted on 09/30/2020 2:14:16 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Most of these interstellar spacecraft carry messages intended to introduce ourselves to any aliens that find them along the way.
In 1972, NASA hadn't even finished sending Apollo astronauts to the Moon yet when it started launching the first missions that would ultimately wind up in interstellar space. That wasn't the end goal though. Pioneer 10 and 11 were primarily intended to do humanity's first major reconnaisance of other planets in our solar system.
Pioneer 10 achieved the first flyby of Mars, the first trip through the asteroid belt, and the first flyby of Jupiter. And the secret to its success was nuclear power. No NASA spacecraft had ever launched with a nuclear-powered electrical source before. So, after Pioneer 10 passed Jupiter in 1973, it still had ample power to keep going. In fact, the mission continued to communicate with Earth for a total of 30 years, rather than the 21 months NASA initially planned for.
Pioneer 11 saw similar success. It made a flyby of Jupiter in 1974 before becoming the first mission to ever encounter Saturn in 1979. Pioneer 11 revealed what the ringed planet is made of, as well as identified new moons and a new ring around the gas giant.
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2
Half a century ago, NASA built its two identical Voyager spacecraft to capitalize on a rare alignment of the outermost planets that only happens once every 175 years. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune were perfectly placed, allowing scientists to chart a course that would send the spacecraft by each of these gas giants. That path also meant that, after theyd completed their tour of our solar system, both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 would continue into interstellar space.
(Excerpt) Read more at astronomy.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; nasa; newhorizons; pioneer; pioneer10; pioneer11; science; space; voyager; voyager1; voyager2
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To: MtnClimber
Voyager 2, looking back.
2
posted on
09/30/2020 2:14:50 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
Pioneer 10 flies past Jupiter as the first mission to the giant planet.
3
posted on
09/30/2020 2:15:20 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
The Pioneer plaque is a gold-anodized aluminum plate with these images engraved onto it.
4
posted on
09/30/2020 2:16:05 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
The Voyager golden record (left) is a 12-inch gold-plated copper disc. Its covered with aluminum and electroplated with an ultra-pure sample of uranium-238.
5
posted on
09/30/2020 2:16:36 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
For good? Must be nice...
6
posted on
09/30/2020 2:17:27 PM PDT
by
who knows what evil?
(Yehovah saved more animals than people on the ark...siameserescue.org)
To: MtnClimber
Even THEY have had enough of 2020.
7
posted on
09/30/2020 2:17:31 PM PDT
by
freedumb2003
("Do not mistake activity for achievement." - John Wooden)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; .30Carbine; 4everontheRight; AFB-XYZ; America_Right; Art in Idaho; ...
Pinging the APOD list to a non-NASA Article because it is a good article.
8
posted on
09/30/2020 2:17:56 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
“For good” sounds so permanent. OTOH, I would be a little concerned if it turned around and came back.
To: MtnClimber
My dad made parts for some of those during his career at Texas Instruments.
10
posted on
09/30/2020 2:22:11 PM PDT
by
al_c
(Democrats: Party over Common Sense)
To: MtnClimber
11
posted on
09/30/2020 2:22:42 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (Isaiah 7:9))
To: Billthedrill
For good sounds so permanent. OTOH, I would be a little concerned if it turned around and came back.
~~~
Sure it can come all the way back, and be powerful, but it will not know exactly how to spell it's own name, or that it's a boring metaphor for female genitalia
12
posted on
09/30/2020 2:25:01 PM PDT
by
z3n
To: MtnClimber
It says Uranus was perfectly placed.
13
posted on
09/30/2020 2:27:57 PM PDT
by
Romulus
To: MtnClimber
14
posted on
09/30/2020 2:29:56 PM PDT
by
rfp1234
(Caveat Emperor)
To: MtnClimber
Makes sense. Carter was President. I'd want to go to another star system too. Even if all that was there was this:
15
posted on
09/30/2020 2:30:53 PM PDT
by
Seruzawa
(TANSTAAFL!)
To: Seruzawa; SaveFerris
Hillary Flammond:
My uncle was born in America.
Nick Rivers:
Oh, really?
Hillary Flammond:
But he was one of the lucky ones. He managed to escape in a balloon during the Jimmy Carter presidency.
Top Secret
16
posted on
09/30/2020 2:32:13 PM PDT
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: MtnClimber
17
posted on
09/30/2020 2:33:40 PM PDT
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: left that other site
[SEND MORE CHUCK BERRY!]
18
posted on
09/30/2020 2:35:13 PM PDT
by
SaveFerris
(Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
To: dfwgator
19
posted on
09/30/2020 2:35:28 PM PDT
by
RevelationDavid
(Don't just 'know about God'...... KNOW GOD....!)
To: MtnClimber
Naked selfies, a mix tape, and directions back to our place...
20
posted on
09/30/2020 2:36:56 PM PDT
by
Dead Corpse
(A Psalm in napalm...)
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