15 Billion Miles Away, NASA’s Voyager 1 Breaks Its Silence The shutdown and the turn on appears to have been triggered by spacecraft’s fault protection system, which automatically manages onboard issues. This system conserves power by disabling non-essential systems if spacecraft’s power supply is overstretched. However, it could take days to weeks for the team to pinpoint what exactly activated the fault protection system.
Troubleshooting and Command Response
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California manages communications with Voyager 1 via the Deep Space Network. When the JPL team sends instructions, Voyager 1 responds by transmitting engineering data, which helps the team assess its reaction to the command. This back-and-forth takes around two days—
nearly 23 hours for command to travel over 15 bil miles (24 bil kilometers) to Voyager 1 & another 23 hrs for data to return to Earth.
https://scitechdaily.com/15-billion-mile...s-silence/
On October 16, the flight team sent a command to turn on one of the spacecraft’s heaters. While Voyager 1 should have had ample power to operate the heater, the command triggered the fault protection system. The team learned of the issue when the Deep Space Network couldn’t detect Voyager 1’s signal on October 18.
Communication Challenges and Solutions
The spacecraft typically communicates with Earth using what’s called an X-band radio transmitter, named for the specific frequency it uses. The flight team correctly hypothesized that the fault protection system had lowered the rate at which the transmitter was sending back data. This mode requires less power from the spacecraft, but it also changes the X-band signal that the Deep Space Network needs to listen for. Engineers found the signal later that day, and Voyager 1 otherwise seemed to be in a stable state as the team began to investigate what had happened.
Then, on October 19, communication appeared to stop entirely. The flight team suspected that Voyager 1’s fault protection system was triggered twice more and that it turned off the X-band transmitter and switched to a second radio transmitter called the S-band. While the S-band uses less power, Voyager 1 had not used it to communicate with Earth since 1981. It uses a different frequency than the X-band transmitters signal is significantly fainter. The flight team was not certain the S-band could be detected at Earth due to the spacecraft’s distance, but engineers with the Deep Space Network were able to find it.
Mission Continuity and Challenges
Rather than risk turning the X-band back on before determining what triggered the fault protection system, the team sent a command on Oct. 22 to confirm the S-band transmitter is working. The team is now working to gather information that will help them figure out what happened and return Voyager 1 to normal operations.
Voyagers 1 & 2 have been flying for more than 47 years, are only two spacecraft to operate in interstellar space. Their advanced age has meant an increase in frequency & complexity of technical issues, new challenges for the mission engineering team.
https://scitechdaily.com/15-billion-mile...s-silence/
(30-10-2024, 05:24 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]We, engineers with the Deep Space Network were able to find it...Mission Continuity & Challenges
Rather than risk turning the X-band back on be4 determining what triggered fault protection system, team sent a command on Oct. 22 to confirm the S-band transmitter is working. The team is now working to gather info that will help them figure out what happened, return Voyager 1 to normal op. Voyagers 1 & 2 have been flying for more than 47 years, are only 2 spacecraft to operate in interstellar space. Their advanced age has meant an increase in frequency & complexity of technical issues, new challenges for the mission engineering team.
https://scitechdaily.com/15-billion-mile...s-silence/
15 Bil Miles Away, NASA’s Voyager 1 Breaks Its Silence the shutdown & turn on appears to have been triggered by spacecraft’s fault protection system, automatically onboard issues, system
try conserves power by disabling non-essential if spacecraft’s power supply is overstretched, it take weeks for team to pinpoint exactly activated the fault protection system. This troubleshooting & Command Response to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California manages communications within Voyager 1 via Deep Space Network. When JPL team sends instructions, Voyager 1 responds by transmitting engineering data, helps team assess its reaction to command.
This back-&-forth takes 2days— 23 hrs, command to travel over 15 bil miles (24 bil km) to Voyager 1 & another 23 hrs for data to return to Earth.
On Oct 16, flight team sent command to turn on one of spacecraft’s heaters. While Voyager 1 have had ample power to op the heater,
so command triggered fault protection system, team learned of issue when Deep Space Network couldn’t detect Voyager 1’s signal on October 18.
Communication Challenges and Solutions help.
Spacecraft typically communicates with Earth using called X-band radio transmitter, named for specific frequency uses, flight team correctly hypothesized fault protection system had lowered rate transmitter, sending back data, mode requires less power from spacecraft, but it changes X-band signal in Deep Space Network needs to listen for. Engineers found signal later that day & Voyager 1 otherwise seemed to be in a stable state, team began investigating what happened. Then, on Oct 19, communication appeared to stop entireling, flight team suspected
Voyager 1’s fault protection system was triggered twice, it turned off X-band transmitter switched a 2nd radio transmitter called S-band. S-band uses less power,
Voyager 1 had not used communicate with Earth since 1981, uses a different frequency than X-band transmitters signal is significantly fainter, flight team was not certain S-band could be detected at Earth due spacecraft’s distance, but they with Deep Space Network were able to find it.
(02-11-2024, 08:29 AM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]![[Image: Screenshot-2024-11-02-08-19-57-25-f9ee05...ccb329.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/ZSTdz9s/Screenshot-2024-11-02-08-19-57-25-f9ee0578fe1cc94de7482bd41accb329.jpg)
China answer to U S. SpaceX reusable space visiting is answered two years ago.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ZNmMe-5tveo?s...5ZIxIP2MqC
What Elon Musk can do to carry more load, China can do well also
but with less on LOAD, about 20 tonnes in their latest big spacecraft.
(02-11-2024, 05:13 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]What Elon Musk can do to carry more load, China can do well also but with less on LOAD, about 20 tonnes in their latest big spacecraft.
![[Image: Screenshot-2024-11-02-17-16-28-84-40deb4...480b12.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/Dt4JJtd/Screenshot-2024-11-02-17-16-28-84-40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg)
China spacecraft can carry up to 7 peoples load in their latest craft and in about 10 minutes to reach just space above earth zone, so that make the
ISS a very old man in space...

Both Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, have been bopping along for nearly a half-century, far beyond their original life expectancy. Launched in 1977, the pair was originally intended to study Jupiter and Saturn, their moons, and Saturn's rings. For the two-planet journey, they were built to last just five years.
After their initial success, engineers doubled their objectives to include two more giant planets, Uranus and Neptune. Between the two spacecraft, they've explored four planets, 48 moons, and a host of planetary magnetic fields and rings.
In August 2012, Voyager 1 made history as it entered interstellar space, the region between stars, filled with material ejected by other stars that died millions of years ago. Voyager 1 and 2 are the only spacecraft ever to operate outside of the heliosphere, the region of space affected by the sun's constant flow of material.
Voyager 1 launched from Earth in 1977 and is the farthest human-made object in space. Voyager 1 is speeding away from the solar system at over 38,000 mph and is the farthest human-made object from Earth. It is so far away that it takes 23 hours for a command to reach the spacecraft, and another 23 hours for mission control to hear back from it.
NASA has previously said the Voyagers generate about 4 fewer watts of power annually, limiting the number of systems the spacecraft can use. Flight controllers have occasionally turned off equipment to conserve power. The goal is to keep the two running beyond 2025, according to the agency.
(31-10-2024, 03:21 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]15 Bil Miles Away, NASA’s Voyager 1 Breaks Its Silence the shutdown & turn on appears to have been triggered by spacecraft’s fault protection system, automatically onboard issues, system try conserves power by disabling non-essential if spacecraft’s power supply is overstretched, it take weeks for team to pinpoint exactly activated the fault protection system. This troubleshooting & Command Response to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California manages communications within Voyager 1 via Deep Space Network. When JPL team sends instructions, Voyager 1 responds by transmitting engineering data, helps team assess its reaction to command. This back-&-forth takes 2days— 23 hrs, command to travel over 15 bil miles (24 bil km) to Voyager 1 & another 23 hrs for data to return to Earth.
On Oct 16, flight team sent command to turn on one of spacecraft’s heaters. While Voyager 1 have had ample power to op the heater, so command triggered fault protection system, team learned of issue when Deep Space Network couldn’t detect Voyager 1’s signal on October 18.
Communication Challenges and Solutions help.
Spacecraft typically communicates with Earth using called X-band radio transmitter, named for specific frequency uses, flight team correctly hypothesized fault protection system had lowered rate transmitter, sending back data, mode requires less power from spacecraft, but it changes X-band signal in Deep Space Network needs to listen for. Engineers found signal later that day & Voyager 1 otherwise seemed to be in a stable state, team began investigating what happened. Then, on Oct 19, communication appeared to stop entireling, flight team suspected Voyager 1’s fault protection system was triggered twice, it turned off X-band transmitter switched a 2nd radio transmitter called S-band. S-band uses less power, Voyager 1 had not used communicate with Earth since 1981, uses a different frequency than X-band transmitters signal is significantly fainter, flight team was not certain S-band could be detected at Earth due spacecraft’s distance, but they with Deep Space Network were able to find it.
Astronomers Find Signs Of Distant Objects At The Edge Of Our Solar System Suggesting, Which Suggests The Kuiper Belt Is Larger Than Previously Believed
https://twistedsifter.com/2024/11/astron...-believed/
(07-11-2024, 11:41 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]![[Image: Screenshot-2024-11-07-23-40-43-10-40deb4...480b12.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/4pDpj2J/Screenshot-2024-11-07-23-40-43-10-40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg)
NASA has announced an updated plan to continue New Horizons’ mission of exploration of the outer solar system. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, New Horizons will focus on gathering unique heliophysics data, can be readily obtained during an extended, low-activity mode of operations.
While the science community is not currently aware of any reachable Kuiper Belt object, this new path allows for the possibility of using the spacecraft for a future close flyby of such an object, should one be identified. It also will enable the spacecraft to preserve fuel and reduce operational complexity while a search is conducted for a compelling flyby candidate.
“The New Horizons mission has a unique position in our solar system to answer important questions about our heliosphere and provide extraordinary opportunities for multidisciplinary science for NASA and the scientific community,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “The agency decided that it was best to extend operations for
New Horizons until spacecraft exits Kuiper Belt, which is expected in 2028 through 2029.”
New, extended mission will be primarily funded by NASA’s Planetary Science Division and jointly managed by NASA’s Heliophysics and Planetary Science Divisions.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/new-horizo...ar-system/