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Voyager 1 is officially the first manmade object to enter interstellar space

Dietrichw
By Dietrichw
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In 2012, NASA's Voyager 1 probe became the first manmade object to leave the solar system, catapulting itself into the farthest reaches of the universe ever touched by humans — or, it didn't. Determining the exact borders of our solar system proved controversial. Now, though, we know NASA's position on the subject: although the probe has yet to leave the solar system, it's entered interstellar space, a part of the universe the human race has never reached.

 

Voyager 1 seems to be involved in a weird semantic game. The sun emits a magnetic field around itself, which is known as a solar bubble and encases the heliosphere, a magnetic sphere that is arguably the edge of the solar system. But like an embattled country, the borders of the solar system are controversial; where it ends depends on who you ask. When the probe appeared to exit the heliosphere, many cheered it on for leaving the solar system; others simply said it had entered interstellar space, the area beyond the heliosphere. NASA, in an announcement this week, hedged the debate: Voyager 1 has, beyond doubt, reached interstellar space, although it's still within our solar system.

 

NASA tamped down the announcement, though, by adding that the probe had not officially made its way out of the solar system, since it has yet to break through a cosmic halo of comets at its farthest edge. Researchers have estimated breaking that ring, known as the Oort Cloud, will take another 14,000 to 28,000 years.

 

 

MAKE UP YOUR MIND NASA! is it or is it not.

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What I'm curious of is how the hell does it still have fuel, or is it drifting?

drifting probably and powered with solar

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What I'm curious of is how the hell does it still have fuel, or is it drifting?

drifting. If I am correct, I believe nasa employed techniques such as catapulting from near by planets to increase the probes velocity on its way out of our solar system. its has since completed its main mission but fortunately is still active and sending data back. it just takes awhile to receive that data.

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drifting probably and powered with solar

 

 

What I'm curious of is how the hell does it still have fuel, or is it drifting?

It's using gravity of other planets or astral bodies to slingshot it self and in turn accelerate, at least I think so... but as far as I know no actual source of thrust is installed on that thing.

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What I'm curious of is how the hell does it still have fuel, or is it drifting?

It got gravitational assists from planets inside the solar system to give it extreme velocity which propels it out of the solar system.

 

If you wish to understand further, may I direct you to Kerbal Space Program.

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It got gravitational assists from planets inside the solar system to give it extreme velocity which propels it out of the solar system.

 

If you wish to understand further, may I direct you to Kerbal Space Program.

I can still only barely get to minmus. im not a very good astronaut. scott manley is awesome!

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drifting probably and powered with solar

Actually Voyager One is powered via nuclear-thermal energy. A radioactive isotope heats up a thermal generator:

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments_rtg.html

instrument_RTG.gif

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Isn't this old news... They reported this, initially, months ago.

It has now been officially verified and confirmed. Previous reports were not verified, but highly suspected that Voyager 1 made it to interstellar space.

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Actually Voyager One is powered via nuclear-thermal energy. A radioactive isotope heats up a thermal generator:

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments_rtg.html

instrument_RTG.gif

I knew it couldnt be solar powered but I wasnt sure what and I did want to think about that at the moment. neat!

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I knew it couldnt be solar powered but I wasnt sure what and I did want to think about that at the moment. neat!

Yup. These devices also have a 2 fold function, to produce electricity, and keeping the spacecraft's electronics from freezing in space.

 

The great part is that radioactive isotopes can provide heat for a long time, in the order of 100s to thousands of years.

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It's mind boggling to think about this: The Oort cloud is, by some estimates, a light-year thick. It's also where most comets come from.

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It's mind boggling to think about this: The Oort cloud is, by some estimates, a light-year thick. It's also where most comets come from.

long period comets come from the Oort Cloud. And short period comets from the Kuiper belt!

Thing

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