On this day in space! Sept. 5, 1977: NASA launches Voyager 1 on epic journey across the solar system
On Sept. 5, 1977, Voyager 1 began its epic journey through deep space with a glorious morning launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Here's why it mattered.
On September 5, 1977, NASA launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida, embarking on an extraordinary journey across the solar system. Initially, the mission aimed to study the outer planets, with Voyager 1 launching on a fast-track to Jupiter instead of following the planned grand tour of the solar system involving Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
In March 1979, the spacecraft overtook its counterpart Voyager 2 and made its first flyby of Jupiter. One year later, in November 1980, Voyager 1 passed by Saturn, propelling it out of the solar system.
Voyager 1, now the farthest human-made object, continues to explore the far reaches of the solar system. As of February 17, 1998, it surpassed Pioneer 10 as the farthest man-made object. In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space. Currently, the spacecraft sits 15.9 billion miles (171.6 astronomical units) away from Earth and remains active, although its nuclear power source has decreased in efficiency due to the passage of time.
NASA commands the probe to occasionally reduce power consumption, including shutting down certain instruments. Voyager 1 carries a golden record containing sounds, sights, and greetings from Earth, should it encounter any extraterrestrial life in the vast expanse of the universe.
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