VOYAGER 2

Daniel Merritt

Voyager 2 is an unmanned and still active space Voyager 2 is an unmanned and still active space probe, currently flying out of our solar system as we probe, currently flying out of our solar system as we speak!speak!

launched on August 20launched on August 20thth, 1977, 1977 Voyager 2 and its sister probe, Voyager 1, were Voyager 2 and its sister probe, Voyager 1, were

designed, developed, and built at the Jet Propulsion designed, developed, and built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CaliforniaLaboratory in Pasadena, California

OriginsOrigins

Launch IssuesLaunch Issues

Voyager 2 was launched using Voyager 2 was launched using a Titan IIIE rocketa Titan IIIE rocket

During the takeoff, Voyager During the takeoff, Voyager 2’s on board sensors became 2’s on board sensors became “confused”“confused”

Activating it’s backup sensors, Activating it’s backup sensors, if it had had control over the if it had had control over the thrusters, it would have thrusters, it would have crashed itself trying to correct crashed itself trying to correct the trajectorythe trajectory

Luckily, the issue was Luckily, the issue was resolved moments before the resolved moments before the separationseparation

More IssuesMore Issues However, it continued to sense phantom emergencies only 1 However, it continued to sense phantom emergencies only 1

hour after launchhour after launch Voyager 2’s on board thrusters were activated as it attempted to Voyager 2’s on board thrusters were activated as it attempted to

locate the sun with a light sensor for orientation purposeslocate the sun with a light sensor for orientation purposes The worst result of the frantic computer activity was the The worst result of the frantic computer activity was the

activation of the fault protection, the last line of defense in case activation of the fault protection, the last line of defense in case of a deep space trajectory malfunctionof a deep space trajectory malfunction

Although the probe recovered control, it was running on backup Although the probe recovered control, it was running on backup sensors, backup radio receivers, and could no longer activate the sensors, backup radio receivers, and could no longer activate the emergency fault protection, if neededemergency fault protection, if needed

So far, there have been no major issues beyond that exciting So far, there have been no major issues beyond that exciting launch daylaunch day

Voyager 2 utilized the gravity slingshot method to catapultVoyager 2 utilized the gravity slingshot method to catapultitself to the furthest planets and eventually beyond the Heliosphereitself to the furthest planets and eventually beyond the Heliosphere

That configuration of the planets only occurs once every 176 years!That configuration of the planets only occurs once every 176 years!

Major Discoveries: JupiterMajor Discoveries: Jupiter

The Great Red Spot is a The Great Red Spot is a persistent storm complex persistent storm complex rotating counter clockwiserotating counter clockwise

New ringsNew rings

Three new satellitesThree new satellites

The most exciting discovery The most exciting discovery is that of active volcanism on is that of active volcanism on the moon Io; the first of it’s the moon Io; the first of it’s kind observed in the solar kind observed in the solar system!system!

Major Discoveries: SaturnMajor Discoveries: SaturnVoyager 2 was primarily Voyager 2 was primarily concerned with concerned with radiography and density radiography and density mapping of Saturn’s mapping of Saturn’s atmosphereatmosphere

Possible seasonal polar Possible seasonal polar temperature differences temperature differences were detectedwere detected

The average The average temperatures at various temperatures at various depths were also depths were also recordedrecorded

After a slight camera After a slight camera lubricant issue, it was lubricant issue, it was cleared to move on to cleared to move on to Uranus Uranus

Major Discoveries: UranusMajor Discoveries: Uranus

Discovered 10 previously unknown moons of Uranus

Studied the planet's unique atmosphere, caused by its axial tilt of 97.8°

Examined the Uranian ring system

Examined the corkscrew magnetic field effects

Major Discoveries: NeptuneMajor Discoveries: Neptune

Discovery of the Great Dark Spot

Studied the planet's atmospheric composition

Heavily examined the previously known moon, Triton, in great detail

Found that the Planet X Effect was in fact caused by a miscalculation of Neptune’s mass, 0.5% too high (about the mass of Mars)

12 years? Is that all?12 years? Is that all? Voyager 2 completed it’s last planetary flyby in 1989Voyager 2 completed it’s last planetary flyby in 1989 It flung itself out into deep space, south of the eclipticIt flung itself out into deep space, south of the ecliptic Continuing to float through space, momentum uninhibited by pesky Continuing to float through space, momentum uninhibited by pesky

forces, Voyager 2 commences its final task; attempting to leave the forces, Voyager 2 commences its final task; attempting to leave the Heliosphere, and the entire solar systemHeliosphere, and the entire solar system

On August 30On August 30thth, 2007 , 2007 Voyager 2Voyager 2 passed passed the termination the termination shock into shock into the Heliosheaththe Heliosheath

So now what?So now what? Voyager 2 is expected to keep transmitting weak radio messages until at Voyager 2 is expected to keep transmitting weak radio messages until at

least 2025, over 48 years since it was launchedleast 2025, over 48 years since it was launched As of April 13, 2010, Voyager 2 was at a distance of around As of April 13, 2010, Voyager 2 was at a distance of around

91.898 AU from the Sun, and traveling outward at roughly 3.264 AU per 91.898 AU from the Sun, and traveling outward at roughly 3.264 AU per yearyear