Voyager Spacecraft: Humanity's Journey to the Edge of the Solar System
In 1977, NASA launched two pioneering spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, on a mission to explore the outer planets and beyond. These twin probes have since become icons of human exploration, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and venturing into the uncharted territory of interstellar space. Credit: NASA Voyager 1 Credit: NASA Voyager 2 The Mission Begins Launch Dates : Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977, followed by Voyager 1 on September 5, 1977. Despite its later launch, Voyager 1 was on a faster trajectory and eventually overtook its sibling. Credit: NASA Primary Mission : Their initial goal was to study the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—providing humanity with its first close-up views of these distant worlds. Credit: NASA Groundbreaking Discoveries Jupiter and Saturn : Both spacecraft conducted flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, capturing stunning images and revealing details about their atmospheres, moons, and rings. Voyager 1 discovered active volca...