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How the Voyager aligns it's antenna towards the Earth.
- Thread starter imhotep
- Start date
Electrical power is supplied by three Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs). The current power levels are about 249 watts for each spacecraft. As the electrical power decreases, power loads on the spacecraft must be turned off in order to avoid having demand exceed supply.
So power generated countionsly 46 years is a remarkable feat, considering now a days made in China things break down within few years
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:08 AM
Closest approach to Jupiter occurred on March 5, 1979 for Voyager 1; July 9, 1979 for Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Saturn occurred on November 12, 1980 for Voyager 1; August 25, 1981 for Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Uranus occurred on January 24, 1986 by Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Neptune occurred on August 25, 1989 by Voyager 2
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:13 AM
Five instruments onboard the Voyagers directly support the five science investigations. The five instruments are:
1. Magnetic field instrument (MAG)
2. Low energy charged particle instrument (LECP)
3. Cosmic ray instrument (CRS)
4. Plasma instrument (PLS)
5. Plasma wave instrument (PWS)
One other instrument is collecting data but does not have official science investigation associated with it:
6. Ultraviolet spectrometer subsystem (UVS), Voyager 1 only
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:17 AM
So power generated countionsly 46 years is a remarkable feat, considering now a days made in China things break down within few years
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:08 AM
Closest approach to Jupiter occurred on March 5, 1979 for Voyager 1; July 9, 1979 for Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Saturn occurred on November 12, 1980 for Voyager 1; August 25, 1981 for Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Uranus occurred on January 24, 1986 by Voyager 2.
Closest approach to Neptune occurred on August 25, 1989 by Voyager 2
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:13 AM
Five instruments onboard the Voyagers directly support the five science investigations. The five instruments are:
1. Magnetic field instrument (MAG)
2. Low energy charged particle instrument (LECP)
3. Cosmic ray instrument (CRS)
4. Plasma instrument (PLS)
5. Plasma wave instrument (PWS)
One other instrument is collecting data but does not have official science investigation associated with it:
6. Ultraviolet spectrometer subsystem (UVS), Voyager 1 only
------ Post added on Aug 8, 2023 at 7:17 AM
Last edited:
RTGs are pretty reliable. They have no moving parts. These work on the principle of thermal to electricity conversion between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors (Seebeck Effect). The heat source is Plutonium-238 in the form of its dioxide PuO2.
The downside of this method is the low conversion efficiency - Typically 7%. The Stirling RTG reached > 23% but NASA dropped the development in 2013. But still they are funding some companies with the ASRG (Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator) development.
All NASA RTGs are from the DOE Labs (although others are involved too). The DOE is finally responsible for the design & the product. (After the Soviet Cosmos 954 satellite (which carried a nuclear reactor) fell to Earth over Canada in 1978, the U.N. established a working group on the use of nuclear power sources in outer space which concluded that nuclear power sources "can be used safely in outer space provided that all necessary safety requirements are met." The Canadians billed the USSR for 6 Million but the USSR paid half. - Before this two of theirs fell into the Ocean. )
The MMRTG was developed by Pratt & Whitney and Teledyne Energy Systems for the DOE. It is derived from the Viking RTG with PbTe/TAGS thermoelectric converters.
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