Voyager 1 Hits New Region at Solar System Edge
Offline ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2011)— NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered a new region between our solar system and interstellar space. Data obtained from Voyager over the last year reveal this new region to be a kind of cosmic purgatory. In it, the wind of charged particles streaming out from our sun has calmed, our solar system's magnetic field is piled up, and higher-energy particles from inside our solar system appear to be leaking out into interstellar space.
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The data do not reveal exactly when Voyager 1 will make it past the edge of the solar atmosphere into interstellar space, but suggest it will be in a few months to a few years.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205141802.htm
Proud Canadian, Enlightened Atheist, Gaming God.
I don't know about the specific technology as far as fuel and communication as far as this probe. I am sure that the designers feel lucky that something didn't cause a cosmic traffic accident. Even with the shuttle orbiting a grain of sand has the potential of being catastrophic. I think every day that data comes back it is a boon for science.
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
Check out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under BrianJames Rational Poet also on twitter under Brianrrs37
one day closer to v'ger, ladies and gentlemen. one day closer to v'ger...
hoooly shee-yit!!!
"I asked my father,
I said, 'Father change my name.'
The one I'm using now it's covered up
with fear and filth and cowardice and shame."
--Leonard Cohen
The energy comes from Plutonium -- radioactive decay of Pu-238 produces heat, and the heat is converted directly to electricity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator
"Obviously I'm convinced of the existence of G-d. I'm equally convinced that Atheists who've led good lives will be in Olam HaBa going "How the heck did I wind up in this place?!?" while Christians who've treated people like dirt will be in some other place asking the exact same question."
Marven Martian "Give me my p-32 aluminum space modulator!"
Bugs Bunny, "Why, what are you going to do with it?"
MM, "I'm going to blow up the earth, it's blocking my view of Venus"
Bugs Bunny, "Well, it's non of my business if you want to......BLOW UP THE EARTH? HEY YOU CAN DO THAT, ALL MY FRIENDS LIVE DOWN THERE".
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
Check out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under BrianJames Rational Poet also on twitter under Brianrrs37
I read about the probe en route a few days ago, too. Pretty cool shit.
"Where's the KA-BOOM? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering KA-BOOM!!"