After 45 years, the 5 billion years legacy of Voyager probes just began.

The most successful space mission in history, Voyager left our solar system. Those two probes are outside heliopause. The most out position of our solar system. Heliopause means the point where ions flow from the Sun mixes with ions that are coming from other stars. That spacecraft gave multiple wonderful images to the researcher. It found many strange things. And the last thing that this spacecraft found was the cosmic hum. NASA plans to keep in contact or analyze the data that those probes sent for as long as possible. 

The lifespan of those probes will extend by shutting down the systems. And somewhere in the 2030s, all systems of those probes end their operations. But long before that the helium storage of the gas rockets ends and two-way communication between probes and Earth turns impossible or meaningless. The information sent from Earth includes orders to change the posture of the probe. 

And another thing is how to use the instruments. So when Voyager probes left from Heliopause there is no need to use things like cameras or change their position. If the tracks of the probes change that tells that there is some gravitational object that changes it. Or there is the possibility that some energy impact like cosmic eruption hits to probe. But the fact is that only outside effects can change that trajectory. 

The computers of those probes are the masterpiece of programming. Credit cards have more memory than those primitive computers. But they are an example of how effective code can make that kind of system able to do its jobs. 

Image 2) "The two Voyager spacecraft took different paths through the solar system, and both have since left the sun’s influence entirely". (Astonomy.com/Voyager: What’s next for NASA's interstellar probes?)

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Image 3) "The Voyager golden record (left) is a 12-inch gold-plated copper disc. It’s covered with aluminum and electroplated with an ultra-pure sample of uranium-238". (Astonomy.com/Voyager: What’s next for NASA's interstellar probes?)

NASA

Image 4) "Only the Voyager probes have passed the heliopause, leaving the sun’s influence. New probes may one day study the interstellar medium lying beyond". (Astonomy.com/Voyager: What’s next for NASA's interstellar probes?)

NASA-JPL/Caltech

The antenna of those probes turned to Earth. And it can transmit data to the largest telescopes on Earth. Conditions outside Heiosphere are stable. And there is almost nothing that can turn the position of that antenna. So because Voyagers turned their antenna to Earth they can stay in that position forever. Or until some impact with micrometeorite or another outside force effect the position of those probes. 

Those two probes show that being near the observable planet gives more details than telescopes. In 40000 years Voyager 1 could reach another star. But that star is red dwarf. 

The distance between the Earth and the center of our galaxy is 26 000 light years. And Voyager traveled only 18 light hours. So that is a good example of distances in the universe. 

After millions of years, those probes will reach some yellow star. Maybe there is a planet orbiting that star. And maybe the famous golden plates can be analyzed by some researchers on that planet. 

There is a small possibility that someday in the distant future our descendants will be those researchers. Maybe some interstellar craft reaches that probe. And then those researchers find evidence of the ancient civilization that once sent that spacecraft. The position of the Sun is changed. 

And maybe the data of the Voyager is buried deep in the computer archives. Or maybe, the data of the famous gold plates of the probe. That sent billions of years ago is lost. While Voyager travels outside our solar system it's the gravitational center. And that means it pulls the microscopic particles to it. When those impacts continue for billions of years they can cause damage to those gold plates. 

But the fact is that Voyagers themselves can be the thing that helps those hypothetical researchers to find the origin of those probes. The elementary and isotope fingerprint in the material of the Voyager probes is unique. There is the possibility that the researchers are using advanced spectroscopy to analyze the materials of the Voyager spacecraft. And then they are starting to find a solar system with similar chemical and isotopic compound that is found in the body of those probes. The question will we ever see them again? 

https://astronomy.com/news/2020/04/voyager-whats-next-for-nasas-interstellar-probes

https://phys.org/news/2022-08-years-billion-year-legacy-voyager-interstellar.html

https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-longest-lived-mission-voyager-probes-log-45-years-in-space/

Image:1) https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-longest-lived-mission-voyager-probes-log-45-years-in-space/

Images 2-4:) https://astronomy.com/news/2020/04/voyager-whats-next-for-nasas-interstellar-probes

https://informationnevervanishes.blogspot.com/

The moon-shuttle and space station

David A Hardy's painting
"Eros expedition"
(Picture I)

http://kimmontaidearvioita.blogspot.com/p/the-moon-shuttle-and-space-station.html

Kimmo Huosionmaa

We are all read about plans to make the moon shuttle and that plan is very interesting. The moon shuttle would be the spacecraft, what would not land to the Earth, and the use of that spacecraft would be like, the crew and other things would transfer to the normal shuttle at the Earth orbital, and then the moon shuttle would be refueled. The shape of this shuttle would be the simple tube, what can be made by using the rocket stage of Delta or Atlas rockets. That stage would be equipped with feet, what are similar to the rockets that are made by David Hardy in the painting above the text. The name of the painting is "Eros expedition", and it portraits the fictional journey to the asteroid Eros, but the similar spaceship can operate from the Moon and travel to Asteroid belt.

An aerodynamic cone, what would protect the docking unit would be removed at the orbital. Or it can be made for turning away from the head of this spacecraft. The technology, what might be used in this enhanced lunar vehicle is basically similar, what have used in the Apollo-program. The big size allows a big cargo bay and this spacecraft would be also used as the space station for the astronauts. In distant future, this kind of spacecraft can also be equipped with ion motors and small nuclear reactor, what allows it to maneuver in large areas in the asteroid belt and investigate the asteroids. And sometimes I have imagined, that it would be equipped with the high power electric generator, what allows to produce the electromagnetic field over this spacecraft, what would protect the crew against cosmic radiation.


If we think the most conventional model of this planned spacecraft, what would use liquid hydrogen and oxygen as a fuel, we must notice that  the biggest difference of this vehicle for Apollo-craft is, that it could fly between Moon and the Earth many times, and if the operator will want, this spacecraft would be land to the Earth without the parachute. The main motor would impose the thrust, that the speed of falling thru the atmosphere would be safe. And if we are honest, the similar technology can be used to send that tube-looking spacecraft to the orbital. The answer for keeping the speed low enough will be in the computerized ventilation system, what imposes the flow of oxygen and fuel all the time during the flight, that the nose of the rocket would not rise too high.


The secret of rockets is they need the mass of fuel to fly to the orbiter, but the rocket must create enough exhaust gasses, that the pressure of those gasses would be bigger than the weight of the rocket. The motor ventilation allows imposing the pushing force of the rocket, that the non-aerodynamic shape would be possible. But the aerodynamic cone can make that way, it has the hinge, what turns it away when the spacecraft is out of the atmosphere.

Picture I

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/61/49/45/614945d6efb3c534338229d76c881bf1--universe-art-alien-art.jpg

Astronauts, robots and virtual reality (Project CODE EVA (Enhanced Vehicle Agent))

http://crisisofdemocracticstates.blogspot.fi/p/astronauts-robots-and-virtual-reality.html

http://crisisofdemocracticstates.blogspot.fi/p/astronauts-robots-and-virtual-reality.html