Saturn
Probes,  Space Technology,  Stars & Planets

5 interesting facts about NASA’s Voyager 1 & 2 Missions

We’ve compiled 5 interesting facts about NASA’s Voyager 1 & 2 missions which launched way back in 1977.

Initially planned to last 4 years, early success during the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn saw the mission extend in order to explore the two remaining gas giants in our Solar System, Uranus and Neptune.

Eventually, in 2012 Voyager 1 left our solar system followed by Voyager 2 in 2018. They entered the final stage of their missions – Interstellar Space.

#1 – Jupiter’s Storm

In February 1979 Voyager 1 began sending images of Jupiter back to NASA. It was a monumental moment in space exploration. But this mission was a fly-by mission, meaning only a 3-day window was available to explore the planet before moving to the next stage of the journey towards Saturn. A combined total of over 33 thousand images were captured by Voyager’s 1 and 2.

The main focus was Jupiter’s giant red spot, a massive storm which had been raging for centuries. The Voyager’s captured some incredibly detailed images, scientists could now gain a better understanding of this ferocious storm and why it had continued for so long.

Jupiter’s moons were also studied, IO in particular left scientists back at NASA stunned. They discovered extremely violent Volcanic activity, with eruptions blasting 190 miles into space.

Jupiter's great red spot

#2 – Saturn “The Ringed” Planet

Next stop for the Voyager’s was Saturn, having performed impressive manoeuvres to slingshot around Jupiter both probes found themselves on course for the planet surrounded by ‘rings’. By late 1980 Voyager 1 arrived at Saturn.

It wasn’t long before scientists were once again baffled. Images of Saturn’s North Pole displayed a strange yet intriguing hexagonal shape measuring over twice the size of Earth. Later, scientists would gain an understanding of Saturn’s unique climate conditions, these conditions were responsible for the formation of the cloudy hexagonal shape.

The Voyager’s also studied Saturn’s rings, on first inspection it was noticed that one section stood out from the rest. It seemed a number of rings were intertwined with each other and formed what was later named the “F” ring. Baffled, scientists at NASA began to investigate. Further images discovered 2 moons within close proximity of each other, it was determined that the moons gravitational pull had caused the rings to behave in such a manner.

#3 – Voyager’s Go It Alone

At this stage of the mission, Voyager 1’s exploration of the giant gas planets ended, it set a course for the edge of our solar system. Voyager 2 on the other hand would explore both Uranus and Neptune alone.

In early 1986, Voyager 2 arrived at Uranus. Not long after, it identified 11 new moons. But once again scientists at NASA found themselves looking for answers, there was something very strange about Uranus, its magnetic field in particular. Before Voyager 2’s arrival, NASA were aware that Uranus was orbiting the sun on its side, but now, they discovered its magnetic field was not like any of the other planets in our solar system. It was off centre, by over 5000 miles.

#4 – Icy Neptune

Finally, in 1989 Voyager 2 completed the tour of planets when it arrived at Neptune. The furthest planet from our sun, with temperatures hundreds of degrees below zero. Voyager 2 discovered 4 more rings and 6 new moons.

A massive dark spot was observed on Neptune’s surface, scientists believed it was a violent storm but unlike Jupiter the storm didn’t last very long. Five years later, the Hubble Space Telescope captured images that revealed the massive dark spot had disappeared.

Voyager 2 also studied Triton, Neptune’s largest moon. A frozen world with temperatures as low as 390 degrees below zero.

#5 – Beyond Our Solar System

Like Voyager 1, Voyager 2 headed for the edge of our solar system. Never before had a man-made space craft travelled this far. Eventually, in 2012 Voyager 1 passed beyond our solar system followed by Voyager 2 in 2018. Almost 40 years after launch. the Voyager’s had made it to Interstellar Space.

Fun fact: Scientists at NASA prepared a special box for each Voyager. Its surface displays a map to Earth using Pulsars as reference points, inside is a gold-plated copper record with music from Beethoven, Chuck Berry and Willie Nelson. There are also sounds of surf, thunder, birdsong and a human heartbeat, a message from Earth should either Voyager ever reach another civilisation.

Voyager 1 & 2 Gold plated record