Voyager 1, launched in 1977 and now over 24 billion kilometers away, remains operational through a nuclear battery powered by decaying plutonium, which provides energy where sunlight is too weak; its 23-watt signal is detected by NASA's deep space network antennas despite taking over 22 hours to reach Earth, and it escaped the solar system using gravity assists from Jupiter and Saturn while carrying humanity's Golden Record as a message to potential extraterrestrial intelligence.
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How is Voyager still alive? #universe #space #astronomy #blackholeAdded:
In 1977, humanity launched a machine that is now over 24 billion km away, and it still talks to Earth. Voyager 1 is the farthest humanmade object ever built. So, how is it still alive? It runs on a nuclear battery powered by decaying plutonium because sunlight is far too weak in deep space. Its transmitter sends only 23 watts, weaker than a household light bulb. Yet NASA still hears it through giant deep space network antennas. Its signals take over 22 hours just to reach us. Meaning every message we receive is a whisper from nearly a day ago. Using gravity assists from Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager gained enough speed to escape the solar system.
And on board it carries the golden record, music, sounds, and voices from Earth. A message for any intelligence that may one day find it. Voyager isn't just a spacecraft. It is humanity's voice drifting forever between the stars.
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