Someday, beings from another planet may find these adventurers and realize that extraterrestrials do exist - and they called themselves 'Earthlings'.
There were two main aspects of the Voyager missions. First, the scientific mission exploring the outer planets and second, the attachment of the "Golden Record" on each spacecraft.
This latter achievement is the most compelling to me.
The various equipment on both Voyager spacecrafts.
Voyager II - Launched on August 20th, 1977
Voyager I - Launched on September 5th, 1977
The primary mission of Voyager 1 was to explore Jupiter, Saturn, and Saturn's largest moon, Titan. After these objectives were met, Voyager 1 continued on toward deep space assisted by Saturn's gravity.
Voyager 2 successfully fulfilled its primary mission of visiting the Jovian system in 1979, the Saturnian system in 1981, Uranian system in 1986, and the Neptunian system in 1989
Both spacecraft are now in the 'interstellar medium' and as of June 2024, are still communicating with Earth!The Voyagers are destined—perhaps eternally—to wander the Milky Way. Planet Earth's ultimate time capsule to the Universe.
Above is the cover plate which protects the record on each craft.
The Voyager Interstellar Record is actually two separate discs attached to each of the Voyager spacecrafts. Both spacecraft lifted off from earth in
1977, and before leaving the solar system, sent back incredible images and fascinating discoveries about our own little corner of the universe.
This cover will protect the record as the ship hurtles through space for millions, even billions of years . The images on the cover are a visual aid -
if aliens do find the ship, this will help them understand how to operate the record player aboard each of the vessels.
The Voyager spacecrafts discovered many new things about the physical nature of our solar system, but it is these records that hold my
interest and imagination. They are, without a doubt, the most fabulous time capsules ever conceived. They are billions of miles away
careening towards the emptiness of deep space. Long after humans have evolved beyond recognition, or have destroyed themselves,
these records will be there for us,
indicating a species striving for knowledge and immortality.
Included on each record are greetings of peace, respect and awe to extraterrestrials in 55 earth languages and over 115 images, from nudes
to a barn raising scene. Also included are the sounds of earth, from bubbling mud potsto Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring". What an amazing
discovery for an
unsuspecting extraterrestrial!
Click on image to enlarge
Visited by Voyager 2 in July, 1979. A moon of Jupiter with an icy crust 60 miles deep that may cover the surface, view Cool patterns caused by ice fractures.
Blocks in the Europan Crust Provide More Evidence of Subterranean Ocean.More exciting things to come!
One of the most amazing planets in our solar system, active volcanoes, crazy colors and an interior heated by tidal forces. Cool.
IO is pronounced ("ee-oh") - or - ("eye-oh") - photographed by Voyager I,it is another moon of Jupiter. Bee-utiful reds, whites, and blacks are on the surface of active volcanoes, eyewitnessed by Voyager!"With over 400 active volcanoes, Io is the most geologically active object in the Solar System. This extreme geologic activity is the result of tidal heating from friction generated within Io's interior as it is pulled between Jupiter and the other Galilean moons—Europa, Ganymede and Callisto."
and the website:
The Voyager Official NASA site
Page Created: August, 2005 - Milwaukee, WI
Last update: June 2024 - Milwaukee, WI
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