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What Are The Voyagers?

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  • Introduction:

    • Podcast: Found In Space - Kids & Teens Science
    • Episode Title: Voyager Missions: Journey to the Stars
    • Host: Arwen Hubbard
    • Release Date: September 6, 2023
    • Summary: Arwen delves into the iconic Voyager missions, two spacecraft that have journeyed far beyond our solar system, providing insights into their remarkable voyage.

  • 1. The Legendary Voyager Missions:

    • Introduction to the Voyager missions.
    • Their status as among the most famous space missions ever.
    • Active duration of 46 years in space as of September 2023.

  • 2. NASA's Dual Mission Strategy:

    • NASA's approach to spacecraft design in the 1970s.
    • Building duplicate spacecraft for the same mission.
    • The example of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

  • 3. Planetary Alignments and Mission Opportunities:

    • Solar system dynamics and planet positions.
    • Special planetary alignment in the 1970s for the Voyager missions.
    • A rare opportunity to visit multiple outer planets in a single mission.

  • 4. Voyager Mission Targets:

    • Target planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
    • Remarkable discoveries, including Saturn's ring system and Enceladus geysers.
    • The original intention to explore Pluto.

  • 5. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2: Different Paths:

    • Distinct mission trajectories of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.
    • Voyager 1's trajectory towards interstellar space.
    • Voyager 2's encounters with Uranus and Neptune.

  • 6. Pioneering Interstellar Exploration:

    • Voyager spacecraft's transition to studying the heliosphere.
    • The heliosphere as the region influenced by the Sun's magnetic field.
    • Crossing into interstellar space and clarifying "leaving the solar system."

  • 7. Voyager's Golden Records: Messages to the Stars:

    • Inclusion of the Voyager Golden Records.
    • Features of the Golden Records, including music, greetings, and Earth's location.
    • The possibility of distant civilizations discovering the records.

  • Conclusion:

    • The enduring mission of the Voyagers.
    • Reflecting on the profound idea of future civilizations encountering the spacecraft.
    • Gratitude to listeners for exploring space and science together.
    • Encouragement to submit questions or topics for future episodes.