198
NASA's Voyager 1 probe hasn't 'spoken' in 3 months and needs a 'miracle' to save it
(www.livescience.com)
this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2024
198 points (96.3% liked)
Space
8736 readers
107 users here now
Share & discuss informative content on: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Space Exploration, Planetary Science and Astrobiology.
Rules
- Be respectful and inclusive.
- No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
- Engage in constructive discussions.
- Share relevant content.
- Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
- Use appropriate language and tone.
- Report violations.
- Foster a continuous learning environment.
Picture of the Day
The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula
Related Communities
๐ญ Science
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !curiosityrover@lemmy.world
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !esa@feddit.nl
- !nasa@lemmy.world
- !perseverancerover@lemmy.world
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !space@beehaw.org
- !space@lemmy.world
๐ Engineering
๐ Art and Photography
Other Cool Links
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
That's all good in theory. However, the RAM on Voyager 1 is an analogue tape recorder, so it will eventually just stop working.
The computer(s) onboard is also the computer-system made by mankind that has been turned "on" for the longest time of any computer. It has never been turned off since the launch in 1977. There's no other computer on Earth that has managed to run consistently for anywhere that long, and frankly I'm unsure if we even could. Theoretically it should be easy, but in practice... I doubt it. Most traffic signs need calibration annually or more frequent.. This thing has been flying through space for 46 years and carrying out Fortran commands every day and now it just doesn't. If there's any physical problems... It's impossible to revive.