NASA Is TERRIFIED After Unknown Force Disables Voyager 1 in Deep Space!

[00:00:00]The whole thing is is magical. They're really going to put a a record on a spacecraft and shoot it out of the solar system. Really?

[00:00:07]>> Three, two, one. MDS, we have ignition.

[00:00:11]We have a liftoff.

[00:00:14]>> The Voyager space probes have been exploring space for more than 45 years now. They're far from home, discovering new things as they go. These machines have sent back really important information and made groundbreaking discoveries. But the latest messages they sent have left scientists confused and scared. It seems like the Voyagers met something unknown out in space and no one knows what it is. NASA is working hard to understand these strange signals. Similarly, people in the science community are feeling worried and scared. You know, I saw that I couldn't believe. I said, "No, that's got to be a hallucination." Nope. I'm not trying to freak people out. I'm trying to say we're going through a big big change and there's a reason for it.

[00:01:02]>> What mysteries are out there in space and what scary things could be hiding in the emptiness? Let's find out. The Voyager Grand Tour.

[00:01:12]Since they took off in 1977, the Voyager space probes have been changing the way we understand our solar system. These missions have given us our first and most important looks into what's going on in our part of the galaxy. But did you know that these famous explorers weren't supposed to last this long? The Voyager mission started by accident when Michael Minovich figured [music] out that a spacecraft could ride on the speed of a planet and shoot farther out into space. That led to the first plans for the probe and the Voyager mission was originally meant to last for 5 years. But even though NASA didn't expect it, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are still zooming through space and telling us important scientific stuff. At first, [music] the Voyagers were made to check out Jupiter and Saturn.

[00:02:03]Both missions finished studying those planets, and then in 1986 and 1989, Voyager 2 went on to be the first to look closely at Uranus and Neptune. They called this part of the trip the Voyager Grand Tour. These missions are like magic in engineering and exploration.

[00:02:23]The probes have traveled more than 14 billion miles and keep sending us awesome scientific info, helping us understand where we fit in the universe better. The Voyager missions show how smart and curious humans are, always wanting to explore the things we don't know. Interestingly, these intrepid space probes have been making some shocking discoveries within our solar system. But this discovery in deep space is even more terrifying. Discoveries within interstellar space. Since they started their journey, these space probes have been on a mission to explore places no other spacecraft has ever been.

[00:03:03]Voyager 1, the leader, made a stunning discovery in 2013 when it crossed the border between our solar system and interstellar space. This is where the sun's magnetic field and charged particles stop and the scary interstellar emptiness begins.

[00:03:22]But wait, there's more. [music] In 2018, Voyager 2 followed its friend's path and also went into interstellar space. It's the only spacecraft that has ever checked out this lonely area. While they kept going into the unknown, the Voyagers faced tough conditions in interstellar space, like a constant shower of cosmic radiation and the huge emptiness between the stars.

[00:03:48]Even with these challenges, the Voyagers didn't give up. They kept going, collecting important information and giving us new insights into the mysteries of the universe. They looked at how the solar wind and the stuff between stars interact, helping us understand the secrets of the heliosphere, a protective bubble around our solar system. Thanks to their brave journey, the Voyagers changed the way we think about the universe and inspired lots of scientists and explorers. NASA's Voyager spacecraft has brought some spooky news about the huge and empty space between stars. According to NASA, cosmic rays, which are like super fast space particles, are three times stronger outside the helopause.

[00:04:36]That's the protective bubble around our solar system. But there's more to the story. Scientists put together what the Voyager mission found with data from later missions. They discovered a strange humming sound recorded by Voyager 1.

[00:05:02]This humming seems to be linked to [music] weird waves in tiny bits of gas in nearly empty interstellar space.

[00:05:09]Imagine this haunting sound resonating in the expansive and desolate reaches beyond our solar system, sending shivers down your spine. That's somehow weird.

[00:05:18]Now, what's causing these weird sounds and waves? Are we the only ones in the universe? Or is there something out there just out of our reach? The Voyager mission has given us answers to some cosmic questions. But it's also brought up new and scary ones that we might never fully understand. For more than 45 years, the Voyager missions have been on a mission to unravel the secrets of the solar system. But the things they've discovered are scarier than anyone thought.

[00:05:47]Scientists found out that the helopause, the line between our solar bubble and interstellar space, [music] isn't just a steady line. It's a moving, changing barrier that's always shifting shape.

[00:06:01]This strange activity has left experts puzzled and worried about what might happen next. Moreover, the Voyagers have gathered information about the sun and how it affects the whole solar system.

[00:06:13]This has given us a better idea of how this giant celestial body flexes its influence. What's astonishing [music] is that the Voyagers have kept working even in temperatures much colder than what they were designed for. This challenges what we thought we knew about how technology should operate. As scientists put [music] together the data from Voyager with information from other missions, they're starting to build models that guess how the helopause, which is the boundary of our solar bubble, might change in the future. But because there are so many unpredictable forces at play, we can't know what's on the other side of our solar systems border. Will we run into unfriendly forces or face unknown dangers? Only time will reveal the answer.

[00:07:01]Meanwhile, recent studies on helopause have brought forth data that's made scientists [music] both puzzled and amazed. Back in 2014, the interstellar boundary explorer, IBEX, noticed a brightening of energetic neutral atoms, ENAs, that showed unevenness in the helopause. [music] This didn't match up with what earlier models predicted. What's even more surprising is that when researchers looked at data from Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, they found out that the helopause changed a lot in a pretty short time. This helps explain why it took a bit for the spacecraft to cross into interstellar space. These differences are called entry speaking, and they've got scientists excited to keep digging into the mysteries of helopause.

[00:07:48]But what kind of information has Voyager 1 been sending that's confusing NASA's engineers? Voyager 1's AACS anomalies.

[00:07:58]Even though Voyager 1 has been doing its job for a while, it's raised some questions about its mission lately. It's been sharing confusing info from the far reaches of space, making NASA's engineers scratch their heads. The puzzling part comes from a crucial system on board called the attitude articulation and control system, AACS.

[00:08:20]This system's main job is to keep track of where the spacecraft is and make sure its antenna points the right way to talk to Earth. Oddly enough, the data from AACS doesn't match up with how Voyager 1 is moving. It's like the spacecraft got a bit lost in the vastness of space.

[00:08:39]NASA is both confused and relieved. Even though the data is mixed up, Voyager 1 is still doing its job perfectly. It listens to commands from Earth and collects important scientific info from its faraway spot. Surprisingly, the spacecraft doesn't seem bothered by this problem, and none of its safety systems have kicked in to protect it.

[00:09:02]Surprisingly, Voyager 1's signal back home is strong, acting like a reliable guide in the vastness of space. Its powerful antenna stays pointed at Earth without a hitch. But things get confusing because the data sent by the AACS sometimes doesn't make sense at all. Suzanne Dodd, managing both Voyager 1 and 2, sheds some light on this puzzling situation. She tells us that running into mysteries isn't uncommon as these voyagers near the end of their mission. These spacecraft, now way past their expected lifetime, have gone farther and lasted longer than anyone thought they would. They faced the tough radiation of interstellar space, a place no other spacecraft has been. While the engineering team has a big challenge, they're optimistic about finding a fix for Voyager 1's AACS issue. If they can figure out what's causing the problem, they might be able to solve it by tweaking the spaceship software or using backup hardware systems. It's worth noting that Voyager 1 has dealt with similar challenges before, like in 2017 when its main thrusters started wearing out. Engineers had to use thrusters that hadn't been used in 37 years during the spacecraft's earlier missions just to keep things going. But now there's a new unexpected twist in the mission story.

[00:10:29]NASA's success with Voyager 1's technical malfunction. NASA's smart engineers figured out the problem with Voyager 1. The AACS was sending data to a computer that had stopped working a long time ago, making the information all messed up. The project manager had a hunch about this, took a chance, and told the AACS to send data to the right computer.

[00:10:55]Even though they're not completely sure why the AACS went off track, they think a glitch in another onboard computer might have caused the issue, suggesting a possible problem somewhere else on the spacecraft.

[00:11:08]The team is determined to find the real cause, believing it's not a big threat to Voyager's overall health.

[00:11:16]Still, they're excited to learn more about how Voyager 1 works inside. But it's important to know that Voyager 1's space journey will end at some point.

[00:11:26]Time is running out for this brave explorer.

[00:11:29]This raises a big question. How much longer can NASA's Voyager keep going on its amazing journey through space? It's an interesting question with lots of angles to think about. Before getting into that, it's key to understand how Voyager 1 talks to us from a whopping 24 billion km away and what decides how far it can go before we can't reach it anymore. Voyager 1's ability to stay in touch relies on a well-designed radio communication system [music] made to work well within and beyond our solar system. At the heart of this system is a big 3.7 m high gain cassagrain antenna.

[00:12:08]This powerful antenna is super important for sending and getting radio waves through three Earthbased stations that make up the deep space network. When Voyager 1 talks to Earth, it usually uses a special channel called deep space network channel 18. It uses radio frequencies of 2.3 GHz or 8.4 GHz. When we send messages to Voyager, we use a frequency of 2.1 GHz. This fancy communication setup helps Voyager 1 stay connected with our home planet as it goes into the huge unknown. Because Voyager 1 has traveled so far, talking to Earth directly gets harder. To deal with this, the spacecraft has a digital tape recorder that can store about 67 megabytes of data. They record information and send it back to Earth later when it's easier to talk. As of 2023, signals from Voyager 1 take more than 22 hours to get to Earth. Way longer than the roughly 15 minutes it takes for Mars rovers to send us data.

[00:13:12]Another important thing to think about is how Voyager 1's signal gets weaker over huge distances in space. It starts with a 20 W signal, but as it travels through space for a long time, the signal gets faint. By the time it reaches Earth, it's really weak. But the main thing isn't how strong the signal is. It's about having good receivers that can catch these faint signals. NASA uses the deep space network for this. It has three places with big antennas. Each has a huge 70 m antenna and a few 34 m antennas. These places can team up to catch signals that are thousands of times fainter than a regular FM radio signal. The deep space network spends a few hours every day listening to these faint signals from Voyager 1, and it always does a great job. Voyager's twin probes bid farewell.

[00:14:05]Excitement is building up as these old but bold spacecraft get closer to a really important part of their trip.

[00:14:11]They're leaving the rough areas of the outer solar system and heading into the clean space of the pure interstellar magnetic field.

[00:14:20]Saying goodbye to these groundbreaking Voyagers is going to be a bit emotional because the end of any long amazing journey always feels a bit sad.

[00:14:30]Right now, Voyager 2 has five working tools while Voyager 1 has four. They keep going strong thanks to a special power source. It turns the heat from plutonium's radioactive decay into electricity. [music] But even this power source is getting weaker, losing about 4 watts every year. Still, their adventure goes on. Voyager 1 will pass by Proxima Centauri, our closest neighbor star, in a whopping 16,700 years. Voyager 2 is doing the same, but it will take an extra 3,600 years. These tough travelers will keep going around the galaxy for millions of years, way after our sun is gone and the heliosphere disappears. Even if they're quiet, these two old school tech things might have a final message. They're like time capsules, copper records with a shiny gold cover wrapped in aluminum.

[00:15:26]They hold pictures and sounds telling the story of what Earth is all about.

[00:15:31]There are 90 minutes of music [music] from box Brandenberg concerto number two to Chuck Barry's Johnny be good. They show things like kids laughing, dolphins dancing, peaceful sunsets, and the sound of crickets on a warm night. These recordings capture who we are and leave our mark on the universe. When they launched, Jimmy Carter, the president of the United States at the time, added a note. It says, "We are sending this message into space. We hope that one day after fixing our problems, we can be part of a group of civilizations from other galaxies. This record shows our hope, determination, and kindness in this huge and amazing universe.

[00:16:16]The Voyagers, like quiet messengers from Earth, keep traveling through the huge space between stars. They bring with them the sounds of our life and the wish for a connection with the cosmos that we haven't made yet. The Voyager space probes have been in space for over 45 solid years and are still exploring and [music] functioning. Contacted some remarkable and unknown force. The [music] source and cause of this energy have not been established yet, but it has left NASA scientists puzzled and curious to comprehend the nature of this incident. Let's find out more. At first glance, data from the [music] spaceship's detectors indicated an abrupt modification in its ambient magnetic field. This gave rise to suspicions of an external factor being involved. The investigation [music] revealed that the disturbance's intensity and duration were greater than any [music] previous examples. Voyager 1 exhibited inexplicable oscillations due to what seemed like a force pushing against its magnetic field. NASA's current exploration spans [music] from remarkable astrophysical occurrences to the fascinating potential for intelligent life [music] beyond our planet. Dark matter, an enigmatic material constituting a significant fraction of the universe's mass, has been proposed by some scientists [music] as being linked to this disturbance.

[00:17:34]Voyager 1's entry into uncharted interstellar [music] space after crossing the helopause in 2012 highlights this puzzling encounter's significance. The mystery surrounding it notwithstanding, [music] Voyager 1 remains an essential source of valuable data about interstellar space that underscores why sustained exploration [music] and development are critical endeavors. This stresses the necessity of consistent investment in exploring space. But what exactly [music] happened when Voyager 1 made contact with this unknown force in deep space? After discovering an abrupt [music] shift in Voyager 1's surrounding magnetic field, NASA scientists initially assumed that [music] a cosmic ray could have been responsible for the disturbance. Nonetheless, extended investigation [music] demonstrated that the vehicle had ventured into interstellar space. Interacting with their surroundings, [music] high energy particles called cosmic rays originate from deep space. The theory surrounding dark [music] matter forms the basis of a compelling hypothesis. Direct detection of dark matter [music] remains elusive despite its known existence as a mysterious substance of most of our universe's mass. While currently beyond our detection capabilities, the effects of dark matter's [music] gravity on visible objects are very real. Dark matter is an elusive material that comprises a significant chunk of the total [music] mass in the universe, and its direct detection has not been accomplished thus far despite concerted [music] efforts. Visible matter reveals the presence of this entity through its gravitational influence. [music] Voyager the 1st of May have explored an area in space where the concentration of dark matter was elevated. The observed effects [music] on its magnetic field may have stemmed from this. This strange substance's interaction [music] with the spacecraft creates a realm of possibilities for understanding an unknown force. Voyager 1's magnetic field might be facing resistance and experiencing oscillations due to [music] dark matter exerting its gravitational force. The interaction between Voyager 1 and [music] pervasive dark matter particles postulated to exist throughout the universe could explain the unexpected behavior of its magnetic field. This hypothesis proposes that we got a [music] unique look at how dark matter and the visible universe interacted dynamically during this encounter. While researchers [music] keep studying it, dark matter's true nature and how it affects our universe is still a [music] fascinating enigma.

[00:19:55]The unknown force witnessed here could be connected to advanced extraterrestrial technology based on principles [music] beyond our current knowledge. Conceivably, these longgone societies or [music] ones existing far away in the universe may have remnants remaining from their manipulation technology for magnets. As Voyager 1 explores the unknown [music] interstellar space, it may have encountered these remnants that caused the magnetic field disruptions. Another fascinating idea puts forward a connection [music] between the enigmatic force and the being of advanced extraterrestrial life forms, manipulating magnetic [music] fields could have been a technological feat achieved by advanced civilizations. The possibility exists that [music] Voyager 1's encounter with the unknown force was due to unintentional contact with remnant artifacts [music] from ancient and extinct societies. If this scenario holds true, it may be an [music] intentional endeavor by an advanced alien entity to communicate. Although highly speculative, contemplating possible extraterrestrial involvement [music] ignites our curiosity and prompts us to continue exploring the cosmos. The fact that the encounter [music] was deliberate communication implies that extraterrestrial beings are highly knowledgeable about magnetic [music] fields and how they can be manipulated.

[00:21:10]An advanced society may attempt to initiate [music] contact or communicate knowledge with the human race. The concept of intentional communication coming from extraterrestrial [music] life forms sparks a feeling of wonder within us. Such a discovery would greatly impact how we view ourselves in relation to the universe [music] as emphasized here. That being said, it is vital to approach these hypotheses with some degree of disbelief. Although fascinating, the link between [music] unidentified energy and dark matter or alien life is mostly theoretical, we are still unaware of much in the vast [music] cosmos. As reminded by Voyager 1's encounters with mysteries, offering opportunities for inquiry and directions for future investigation. Such theories motivate scientists to challenge the limits [music] of our current knowledge.

[00:21:57]The examination of data revealed that both the magnitude and duration of disturbance surpassed all earlier observations. The mysterious opposition of an unknown force against Voyager 1's [music] magnetic field left scientists puzzled, resulting in strange and inexplicable oscillations. [music] Encountering an unknown force emphasizes the inherent difficulties of exploring deep space. As a reminder, it highlights the limits of our present scientific [music] expertise and tools. By embarking on Voyager 1's mission, humans have demonstrated their natural inquisitiveness and desire to explore, uncovering precious knowledge [music] regarding the expanse of interstellar space. Yet, it is important to admit the [music] restrictions and obstacles experienced by spacecraft. With its limited lifespan and restricted data transmission [music] capabilities, Voyager 1's discovery of unknown territories remains uncertain and dependent on chance encounters. To solve the mystery encountered by Voyager 1, NASA researchers have presented several [music] theories and speculations.

[00:22:57]Different vantage points are given for understanding the inexplicable force while remaining speculative. These theories [music] create avenues for exploration and possibilities that extend our understanding beyond their boundaries. After [music] they were surprised by the nature of force and its resistance to magnetic fields, more questions than answers remain for scientists. [music] Their current comprehension of the laws of physics and particle behavior in deep space was [music] challenged. The immense magnitude and intensity of the disruption clarified that they were encountering a singular occurrence requiring extensive [music] research and evaluation. As NASA delved further into the enigma, scientists started [music] contemplating various possibilities to clarify the puzzling energy encountered [music] by Voyager 1. Thanks to Voyager 1's extended journey through deep space, we've acquired a wealth of knowledge and an invaluable [music] understanding of the intricate nature present within interstellar spaces.

[00:23:51]While facing perplexity [music] after encountering an unknown force, important information about our universe beyond this [music] planet was discovered through data transmission from this spacecraft. The ability to provide a direct account of the interstellar medium makes Voyager 1's contribution [music] incredibly significant. The spacecraft made unique observations and measurements of interstellar conditions by exploring beyond the helopause. The analysis of certain attributes in the interstellar medium like its density, temperature or magnetic field is now feasible for scientists because [music] of this data. It offers critical data for our comprehension of the wider universe. The vital role played by Voyager 1 in expanding our knowledge about the heliosphere, a region [music] affected by solar wind from the sun, cannot be ignored. Spacecraft's [music] observations have helped us better understand various elements that constitute a part of the heliosphere, including helio sheath and helopause, while also helping us comprehend their interaction with [music] solar wind, understanding the nature of our solar system and its relationship with the surrounding interstellar environment.

[00:24:59][music] necessitates possessing this vital knowledge. Besides, Voyager 1 has [music] permitted us to explore the cosmic radiation surroundings outside the heliosphere. The spacecraft has helped us understand [music] cosmic rays origin, acceleration mechanisms, and distribution by measuring their flux and property. The observations have revealed information about the energetic processes in the [music] universe and their impact on our comprehension of astrophysical phenomena. That being said, recognizing the limits of Voyager 1's [music] mission is essential. The continuation of observations and data transmission is hindered by the finite lifespan of the spacecraft. [music] As time advances, the power sources on Voyager 1 will lessen and ultimately it won't be able to operate. Expanding our knowledge about the cosmos necessitates [music] ongoing space exploration endeavors and the creation of new missions. Furthermore, data transmission of Voyager 1 is curtailed [music] by the distance that separates it from Earth.

[00:25:59]Voyager 1's signals weaken [music] as it journeys further into interstellar space. Restricted by limited bandwidth and transmission rate, scientists on Earth face limitations [music] in the amount of data they can receive and analyze. New and unpredictable discoveries [music] can impact Voyager 1's exploration.

[00:26:17]Encountering unknown forces is just one example of the unexpected phenomena you may encounter in space. [music] Scientific experts must remain versatile and flexible in their approaches, prepared to scrutinize and construe [music] new findings that dispute established theories. They develop our awareness of the universe. While limited by certain factors, Voyager 1's successes prove that scientific partnership is effective and emphasizes why we must invest in ongoing space exploration, [music] research, and development. The triumphant Voyager mission directly resulted from global [music] cooperation among scientists and engineers working collectively to [music] design, build, and operate spacecraft. Collective effort is required to pursue knowledge that transcends national [music] boundaries.

[00:27:02]As a reminder, subscribe to this channel for more astonishing space discoveries.

[00:27:07]NASA scientists [music] have been left curious and excited following a recent encounter between Voyager 1 and a mysterious force now driving interest amongst global [music] space enthusiasts. The spacecraft's journey through the depths of interstellar space reveals more mysteries that [music] emphasize the necessity for ongoing exploration. Obtaining knowledge is indispensable. Voyager 1 has become a timeless emblem depicting humanity's relentless drive to uncover all aspects of [music] space exploration. Whether through investigating exotic astrophysical phenomena or contemplating complex topics such [music] as dark matter and extraterrestrial life forms, the universe's immense scope and enduring [music] enigma continue to capture our fascination and intrigue.

[00:27:51]Discovering what is hidden within uncertainty can expand our awareness of ourselves [music] and where we fit into this vast universe.