How Fast Are the Voyager Spacecrafts Travelling?
What is the Voyager Spacecraft's Speed?
As of 2013, the Voyager 1 probe was moving with a relative velocity to the Sun of about 61197 kilometers per hour (38026 mph). With this velocity, the probe is traveling at about 17 kilometers per second. Voyager 2 was traveling at a slightly slower speed of about 15 kilometers per second. The speed of the Voyager spacecrafts is constantly changing due to the gravitational pull of the Sun and other planets.
Why were the Voyager Missions Launched?
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes were launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets of our solar system. The probes were designed to study the planets, their moons, and the space between them. The Voyager missions were a great success, and they provided us with a wealth of information about the outer planets.
What have the Voyager Spacecrafts Accomplished?
The Voyager spacecrafts have made a number of important discoveries, including: * The discovery of volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io * The discovery of a large, dark spot on Neptune * The discovery of the rings of Uranus * The discovery of the first moon of Pluto The Voyager spacecrafts have also provided us with valuable information about the solar wind and the magnetic field of the Sun.
What is the Future of the Voyager Spacecrafts?
The Voyager spacecrafts are still operational and continue to send back data to Earth. However, they are now both beyond the orbit of Pluto and are headed into interstellar space. The Voyager 1 spacecraft is expected to reach the heliopause, the boundary between the solar wind and the interstellar medium, in 2025. The Voyager 2 spacecraft is expected to reach the heliopause in 2033. Once the Voyager spacecrafts reach the heliopause, they will continue to travel through interstellar space. They will eventually become the first human-made objects to leave the solar system.
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