This week’s episode was dedicated to the Voyager 1 and 2 probes, and it was a long time in the making! Launching in 1977, these two probes explored the outer Solar System and accomplished many firsts. This included obtaining the first evidence that Jupiter’s moon, Europa, could have an interior ocean. They also examined Saturn’s rings and got the first close-up look at Saturn’s moon, Titan, and its dense hydrocarbon atmosphere, which led to speculation that liquid methane lakes might exist on its surface.
While Voyager 2 became the first mission to visit Uranus and Neptune, a feat which has not yet been repeated, Voyager 1 conducted the Pale Blue Dot campaign, obtaining the best-known image of Earth. And, of course, they both carry the Voyager Golden Records, which contain sounds and images of Earth and simple diagrams indicating the location of Earth and the Solar System. These records could be the first interstellar message sent by humanity to another civilization or a time capsule for future generations of humans.
The two probes are now in interstellar space, where they continue to operate and return data on the interstellar medium. Regardless of how much time has passed, the Voyager probes will forever remain iconic and their accomplishments legendary. Check out the episode below:
Stories by Williams 