NASA’s Voyager 1 Reaches One Light-Day from Earth on November 18
NASA is planning events to mark Voyager 1's milestone of reaching one light-day from Earth on November 18.
CALIFORNIA, Nov 13: NASA’s Voyager 1 will reach a significant milestone on November 18, traveling one light-day from Earth, or over 16 billion miles. This distance means any communication with the spacecraft will take a full 24 hours to arrive one way.
The agency has organized two events to celebrate. On November 17, they invite people worldwide to participate in “Shine Bright for Voyager’s Light-Day” after sunset. Participants can use flashlights or smartphones to send a Morse code signal of the spacecraft’s call sign, “VGR”. NASA has created a website to assist with this task.
On November 19, NASA will host a discussion at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, detailing Voyager 1’s journey and the operational challenges it faces. Attendees can engage in a Q&A session afterward. NASA plans to discuss the unique scientific observations from Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, which has also provided valuable data from interstellar space.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 was originally meant for a brief mission to explore the outer planets but has far exceeded its estimated lifespan. It continues to travel at nearly 38,000 mph. Voyager 2, launched shortly after, will not reach the same light-day milestone until November 2035.
Both spacecraft are nearing the end of their operational lives as they rely on dwindling nuclear power sources. NASA has adjusted operations to prolong their functionality. Despite recent issues, including a temporary communication blackout, the team remains hopeful about the probes’ continued contributions.
As NASA states, the light-day event is a celebration of humanity’s achievements in space exploration. The phrase associated with Voyager 1, “ad astera per aspera,” translates to “to the stars through struggles,” reflecting the enduring spirit of this mission.