NASA continues to try to solve the problem that caused Voyager 1 to lose the ability to send scientific data to Earth. This is stated in a message posted on social networks.
A Voyager update: Engineers are still working to resolve a data issue on Voyager 1. We can talk to the spacecraft, and it can hear us, but it's a slow process given the spacecraft's incredible distance from Earth.
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) February 6, 2024
We’ll keep you informed on its status. ???? pic.twitter.com/qSxG0au1Nn
The problem with Voyager 1 arose in December 2023. At some point, instead of collecting data, it began transmitting a repeating pattern of ones and zeros to Earth, as if it was jammed. Mission specialists concluded that the entire problem was a malfunction of the flight data system. They rebooted the machine’s computer, but it didn’t help.
In its new message, NASA does not provide any specific details about what is happening with Voyager 1 right now. It is reported that the spacecraft is still transmitting telemetry and responding to commands, and engineers are still trying to solve the problem. This task is seriously aggravated by the fact that the signal emitted from Earth takes 22.5 hours to reach the probe. It takes the same amount of time to hear its answer. This means that mission specialists have to wait 45 hours to find out if the team has led to the desired result.
Recall that Voyager 1 was launched in September 1977. To date, it is the most distant object made by human hands. During the 46 years of its journey, Voyager 1 managed to move away from the Sun at a distance of 162.5 AU (24.3 billion km).
During this time, Voyager 1 encountered a number of malfunctions and anomalies. For example, in 2022, it transmitted incorrect telemetry to Earth for several months. Subsequently, the specialists managed to find a solution to the problem. It remains to be hoped that they will be able to cope with the current failure.
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