Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: chris on 07/01/2010 04:09:00

Title: Where are the Voyager space probes now?
Post by: chris on 07/01/2010 04:09:00
I was asked a question relating to the Voyager space probes, their missions and their present activity:

This page provides a very nice summary:

http://www.spacetoday.org/SolSys/Voyagers20years.html

This also reminded me of another interesting story we covered in 2002, which was NASA's contacting of the Pioneer 10 probe on its 30th birthday:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/1025/

Incredible!

Chris
Title: Where are the Voyager space probes now?
Post by: litespeed on 10/01/2010 20:22:24
DiscoverDave

I find it fascinating the Voyagers are now traveling at low interstate speeds away from earth [61+ kph]. Are these speeds adequate for escape velocity from the Solar System? Have I missed a decimal or two?

I LOVE this stuff. For instance, perhaps you can report what is the oldest operational satellite? The most distant operational satellite etc. I admit to a certain level of sloth on my part....

Thanks!
Title: Where are the Voyager space probes now?
Post by: chris on 11/01/2010 22:59:52
The Voyagers must be doing more than 61 kph, surely? They were doing nearly 40,000 mph in the solar system...
Title: Where are the Voyager space probes now?
Post by: BamaGeek on 11/01/2010 23:08:00
If you read the post carefully, you might see a capital K after the numbers -  it isn't 61 kph, it's 61K+ kph = 61,000+ kph
Title: Where are the Voyager space probes now?
Post by: Geezer on 12/01/2010 04:06:10
Quote from: BamaGeek on 11/01/2010 23:08:00
If you read the post carefully, you might see a capital K after the numbers -  it isn't 61 kph, it's 61K+ kph = 61,000+ kph

Strictly speaking, 61K is 61 degrees Kelvin, which probably was not the intended meaning. Also, it's not clear what kph is at all.

Here's a link to a guide on the "proper" use of SI units http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/correct.htm