Voyager 2 is a space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977, as part of the Voyager program. It is one of the two Voyager spacecraft, the other being Voyager 1, and both were designed to study the outer planets of our solar system and then continue into interstellar space to explore the region beyond the influence of the Sun.
Voyager 2's primary mission was to study Jupiter and Saturn. It conducted a flyby of Jupiter in July 1979, providing detailed images and data about the planet's atmosphere, moons, and magnetic field. It then continued its journey and reached Saturn in August 1981, capturing remarkable images of Saturn's rings, moons, and magnetosphere.
After completing its encounters with Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 2's mission was extended to include flybys of Uranus and Neptune. It made a historic flyby of Uranus in January 1986, providing the first close-up images and data of the planet and its moons. In August 1989, Voyager 2 conducted a flyby of Neptune, becoming the first spacecraft to visit the planet. It revealed new information about Neptune's atmosphere, rings, and moons.
After its encounters with the outer planets, Voyager 2 continued its journey into interstellar space, carrying a golden record with messages and sounds from Earth in case it's ever encountered by extraterrestrial beings.
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Voyager 2 is still operational and communicating with Earth, sending valuable data about its surroundings in interstellar space.
No comments:
Post a Comment