Voyager 2 spacecraft launched 49 years ago today
Voyager 2 realized the vision of what was originally called a Grand Tour of the outer solar system. It is the only craft that has visited all 4 outer planets. The post Voyager 2 spacecraft launched 49 years ago today first appeared on EarthSky .
On August 20, 1977, NASA launched the Voyager 2 space probe as part of its ambitious Grand Tour mission to explore the outer planets of our solar system. The craft, which was launched just a few weeks before its twin, Voyager 1, went on to visit all four gas giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Voyager 2 is currently the only spacecraft from Earth to have visited Uranus and Neptune, making it a truly remarkable achievement in space exploration.
As the probe continues its journey through interstellar space, it remains in contact with scientists on Earth via NASA's Deep Space Network, transmitting valuable data about its surroundings.
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