NASA has successfully reestablished communication with Voyager 1, the spacecraft that is currently the farthest human-made object from Earth. The spacecraft, launched in 1977, had gone silent in late October after entering a safe mode that cut off communication with Earth.
The issue began when NASA sent a command to Voyager 1 to adjust its orientation. The spacecraft, which has been operating for nearly 47 years, misinterpreted the command and entered safe mode as a precautionary measure. This mode automatically shut down non-essential systems, including the high-gain antenna used for communicating with Earth.
NASA scientists determined that Voyager 1 had switched to its backup, lower-power S-band transmitter, which had not been used since 1981. By using a larger antenna and more sensitive receivers, NASA was able to detect the weaker S-band signal.
The agency is now working on a plan to reactivate Voyager 1's primary X-band transmitter, which will allow for higher data rates and more detailed communication.
Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, were launched in 1977 to study the outer planets of the solar system. Both spacecraft have since ventured beyond the heliosphere, the bubble of charged particles created by the Sun. Voyager 1 is currently more than 24 billion kilometers from Earth.
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