NASA announces an unexpected ‘communications interruption’ with the renowned Voyager 2 probe, which carries a ‘golden record’.
NASA’s renowned Voyager 2 probe encounters an unforeseen “communications pause” due to an unintentional misalignment of its antenna, as disclosed by the space agency.
On July 21, during a routine transmission of commands from mission control, an inadvertent effect caused a 2-degree shift in Voyager 2’s antenna orientation. Consequently, the spacecraft’s capacity to receive commands and transmit data back to Earth has been temporarily disrupted.
In 1977, the spacecraft embarked on its journey into orbit, equipped with a “golden record” meant to serve as a time capsule in case it comes across any extraterrestrial beings.
Due to the current problem, Voyager 2’s data transmission cannot reach the Deep Space Network, a collection of massive radio network antennas. Consequently, the team of ground controllers responsible for the probe is also unable to establish communication with it.
NASA remains optimistic that the technical glitch is merely a temporary issue. They anticipate that during the spacecraft’s scheduled orientation reset on October 15, communication lines will be restored between Voyager 2 and the ground control team. The space agency is confident that the probe will continue to follow its intended trajectory until the reset takes place.
Both Voyager spacecraft also bear a remarkable “golden record” intended as a message of greeting to any potential extraterrestrial life they may encounter. This phonograph record, crafted from a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk, is a treasure trove of sounds, images, spoken greetings in 55 languages, and a collection of musical compositions from diverse cultures and historical periods. The intention behind this record is to showcase the rich tapestry of life and culture on Earth.
