NASA finds its missing spacecraft after a wrong command severed communication — but it could be months before the space agency regains control.
abc.net.au/news/voyager-2-found-by-nasa/102676802After days of silence, NASA has heard from spacecraft Voyager 2, which is almost 20 billion kilometres from Earth.The antenna, tilted away from earth, is only 2 per cent off-kilterFlight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command nearly two weeks ago that tilted the
But NASA's Deep Space Network, giant radio antennas across the globe, picked up a "heartbeat signal", on Tuesday. It means the 46-year-old craft is alive and operating, project manager Suzanne Dodd said in an email.The distance to the spacecraft is about four times the average distance between the Sun and Pluto, meaning it takes more than 18 hours for a signal to travel one way.If the command doesn't work — and controllers doubt it will — they'll have to wait until October for an automatic spacecraft reset.
Voyager 2 rocketed into space in 1977, along with its identical twin Voyager 1, on a quest to explore the outer planets. Still communicating and working fine, Voyager 1 is now 24 billion kilometres from Earth, making it the most distant spacecraft.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canberra dish on lookout for lost Voyager 2 spacecraftNASA's giant dish antenna in Canberra is on the lookout for signals from the Voyager 2 spacecraft, after flight controllers accidentally severed communications more than a week ago.
Read more »
Live hookworms in the gut may help people at risk of type 2 diabetes, study findsResults from a two-year clinical trial are encouraging enough for most participants infected with live parasites to choose to keep them after the study.
Read more »
Man dies after passerby finds him injured on roadA man has died shortly after he was found seriously injured by a passerby on a road in Cobram. 7NEWS
Read more »
United States continuing to ‘weaponize space’Curtin University Political Analyst Joe Siracusa says the United States is continuing to “weaponize space”. “Australia’s also going to be involved … in defence department issues in space,” Mr Siracusa told Sky News Australia. “A lot of things that are involved in satellite imagery in the event of any kind of attack. “Australia’s going to be at the front line of that.”
Read more »
Origin of space junk that washed up on WA beach revealedThe Australian Space Agency concludes the mysterious object found on Green Head beach was mostly likely debris from a satellite launch vehicle.
Read more »
Mystery ‘floating object’ found on Perth beach finally identifiedThe origin of a piece of space junk that washed up on a WA beach is a mystery no more, with authorities confirming it came from an Indian rocket. 7NEWS
Read more »