Where is Voyager 1 Now in 2022?
Voyager 1, a relic of modern space exploration, has been venturing beyond our Solar System for over 45 years. As of 2022, the probe is traversing the vast and cold expanse of interstellar space, positioned outside the heliopause, the boundary of energetic particles and magnetic fields emanating from the Sun.
The probe's mission was not merely to explore, but to make groundbreaking discoveries. One of its key objectives was to conduct a close fly-past of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, which possesses a substantial atmosphere similar to Earth's. The importance of this target was so significant that the mission team was willing to accept the loss of visiting Uranus and Neptune if it meant being able to study Titan.
A similar rationale applied to Voyager 2. Despite being off the ecliptic plane, the probe was designed to study Triton, a moon of Neptune with a thin atmosphere fed by cryogenic geysers. These scientific priorities underscore the profound value of each encounter.
The strength and longevity of Voyager 1 can be attributed to its robust Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), which has provided consistent power for over 40 years. This impressive feat is a testament to the engineering and foresight that went into designing such a durable spacecraft.
Nearly 40 years after its launch, Voyage 1 continues to send valuable data back to Earth. On February 16, 2024, it was recorded as being approximately 243.74 billion kilometers from Earth, traveling at a velocity of 17 kilometers per second relative to the Sun.
Current Location and Trajectory
Moving at this immense distance, Voyager 1 is about 15 billion miles away from Earth. Its current position is not pointed towards any specific star because even if it were, it wouldn't reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, for another 70,000 years. In around 40,000 years, it will pass within 1.6 light years of the star Gliese 445, and in 300,000 years, it will go within 1 light year of the star TYC 3135-52-1. Yet, these encounters hold no practical significance as Voyager 1 will no longer be functional by then.
Present Activities and Future Outlook
Despite its remarkable journey, Voyager 1 is primarily engaged in collecting data on magnetic fields, cosmic rays, plasma density, and low-energy charged particles in interstellar space. These are the only four instruments that remain operational. The spacecraft is transmitting this information back to Earth at a blisteringly slow rate of 160 bits per second, using the same transmission technology that dates back to the 1970s.
Power is another critical concern for Voyage 1. By 2025, and potentially a few years beyond, the RTG will have provided so little power that it will no longer support the operation of even a single instrument. At that point, the command will be sent to shut down all systems, marking the end of active mission operations. After approximately 10 years, Voyager 1 will become too far away from the Deep Space Network to transmit any further data, effectively ending its communication with Earth.
Conclusion
Voyager 1's journey from our Solar System offers a profound insight into the vastness of space and the enduring nature of human curiosity. Its capabilities and legacy will continue to inspire generations of scientists and dreamers, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.