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Earth to Voyager 2: Reconnected

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    18th Feb, 2021

Context

NASA has again been successful in establishing the communications channel back on Voyager 2.

What is Voyager 2?

  • NASA's Voyager 2 is the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
  • It is designed to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment to study the outer solar system.
  • Voyager 2 targeted Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
  • On December 10, 2018, the spacecraft joined its twin—Voyager 1—as the only human-made objects to enter the space between the stars.
  • Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 hold the records for the farthest a spacecraft has ever traveled and for the longest operating mission.

Scientific Instrumentsin Voyager 2

  • Imaging Science System (ISS)
  • Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS)
  • Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS)
  • Planetary Radio Astronomy Experiment (PRA)
  • Photopolarimeter (PPS)
  • Triaxial Fluxgate Magnetometer (MAG)
  • Plasma Spectrometer (PLS)
  • Low-Energy Charged Particles Experiment (LECP)
  • Plasma Waves Experiment (PWS)
  • Cosmic Ray Telescope (CRS)
  • Radio Science System (RSS)

How the Communication between Earth and Voyager 2 takes place? 

  • Voyager 2 can only receive commands from Earth via one antenna in the entire world.
  • It is called DSS 43 and it is in Canberra, Australia.
  • It is part of the Deep Space Network or DSN.

Verifying, please be patient.