7 Things to Know About Voyager
- 01
Launch
Voyager 2 launched on Aug. 20, 1977, from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a Titan-Centaur rocket. Voyager 1 launched on Sept. 5 from Cape Canaveral on a similar rocket.
- 02
Planetary Tour
Between them, Voyager 1 and 2 explored all the giant planets of our solar system; 48 moons orbiting them; and unique systems of rings and magnetic fields surrounding them.
- 03
Most Distant Spacecraft
On Feb. 17, 1998, Voyager 1 passed Pioneer 10 to become the most distant human-made object in space.
- 04
The Golden Record
Both Voyager spacecrafts carry a greeting to any form of life, should that be encountered.
- 05
Termination Shock
Voyager 1 crossed the termination shock in December 2004 at about 94 AU from the Sun while Voyager 2 crossed it in August 2007 at about 84 AU.
- 06
Going Interstellar
Voyager 1, which is traveling up away from the plane of the planets, entered interstellar space on Aug. 25, 2012. Voyager 2, which is headed away from the Sun beneath the plane of the planets, reached interstellar space on Nov. 5, 2018.
- 07
Present Status
Voyager 1 is escaping the solar system at a speed of about 3.6 AU per year. Voyager 2 is escaping the solar system at a speed of about 3.3 AU per year.
