NASA’s two Voyager probes have been rushing to the far corners of the solar system since their launch in 1977 In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first man-made object to reach space interstellar, and was followed by Voyager 2 in 2019 NASA expects that both spacecraft have enough fuel to last until 2025, after which their scientific missions will likely be removed
Now, after traveling more than 116 billion miles (188 billion km) in space, it is not easy for NASA scientists to stay in touch with the Voyagers
And the only antenna that can communicate with Voyager 2 is offline since March of this year
The radio antenna 43 of the deep space station 43 to 230 feet wide in Canberra, Australia, was closed earlier this year for upgrades that should be completed in February next year
The parabolic antenna is part of a global network of antennas adapted to communicate with devices operating space beyond the orbit of the Moon
Since the antenna station 43 has been disconnected, mission operators Voyager could not get that made health day and data from the spacecraft
But on October 29, scientists have managed to reach the spacecraft for the first time since mid-March, testing a part of the newly installed equipment
A set of commands has been transmitted to the spacecraft from the antenna station 43, whereupon Voyager 2 confirmed that it had received the transmission
One of them has not been improved for 47 years – longer than the Voyagers were not in space
The engineers also begin to level the heating and cooling of the antenna systems, the supply equipment and other electronic components
The most recent call test Voyager 2 suggests that work is progressing well and will be completed by February 2021
Brad Arnold, the DSN project manager at the Jet Propulsion Lab of NASA, said: « What makes this unique task is that we are working at all levels of the antenna, the base level ground to the feed cone to center of the dish which extend over the edge
« This communication test with Voyager 2 is a clear signal to us that things are going well with the work we are doing »
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The radio antenna forms a chain link in an antenna known as the Deep Space Network (DSN)
DSN antennas are equally spaced around the world, located in Canberra, Australia, at Goldstone in California and Madrid in Spain
Thanks to their positions, at least one network radio antenna can communicate with almost all satellites at any time
Voyager 2, however, an exception to the rule, with its flyby of Neptune’s moon Triton in 1989.
At the time, the spacecraft flew over the north pole of Triton and was deflected into an orbit south of the planetary plane
As a result, the antenna of the Deep Space Station 43 is now the only radio dish in the southern hemisphere that can reach the spaceship
Philip Baldwin, director of operations for the communications and space navigation program (SCAN) of NASA, said: « The DSS43 antenna is a highly specialized system: there are only two other similar antennas in the world, so the antenna is lowered for a year is not an ideal situation for traveling or for many other NASA missions
« The agency made the decision to make these upgrades to ensure that the antenna can continue to be used for current and future missions. For an antenna that is almost 50 years old, it is better to be proactive than reactive with critical maintenance «
The radio dish is in operation since 1972 and has since received a wide range of upgrades
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Voyager 2, NASA’s Voyager program
World News – AU – NASA Voyager 2 contacts for the first time in months over 11 BILLION years6 miles from Earth
