Voyager

Voyager 2, launched in 1977, has had a remarkable journey through space, recently reconnecting with NASA after a brief communication pause. The spacecraft, along with its twin Voyager 1, is currently in interstellar space, having left the heliosphere in December 2018. Voyager 2 has the distinction of being the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune, providing invaluable data about these distant planets

NASA recently reestablished contact with Voyager 2 by using a powerful "interstellar shout" from the Deep Space Network. This was necessary due to an unplanned command that had temporarily disrupted communications. Despite its age, Voyager 2 continues to send scientific data back to Earth, although its power reserves are expected to run out in the 2030s. Once its power is depleted, it will continue its silent journey through the Milky Way.

Both Voyager spacecraft carry Golden Records, which contain sounds and images intended to represent life on Earth to any potential extraterrestrial finders. These records include a map of the solar system, music, greetings in various languages, and sounds of nature, selected by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan.

Voyager 2’s ongoing mission highlights the enduring legacy of human exploration and the quest for knowledge beyond our solar system. Its journey, along with Voyager 1's, marks humanity's farthest physical reach into space, providing a testament to our desire to understand the cosmos.