Nasa's Deep Space Network (DSN) has successfully detected a carrier signal from the Voyager 2 spacecraft. The finding comes days after an inadvertent command led to a total loss of communication with the legendary spacecraft hurtling into interstellar space. The erroneous command disrupted communication with the probe after its antenna was moved. The DSN is an international array of massive radio antennas. It is responsible for communicating with missions across the cosmos.
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#Voyager2 #Voyager2NASA #NASA
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00:00 NASA's Deep Space Network, or DSN, has successfully detected a carrier signal from the Voyager
00:06 2 spacecraft.
00:07 The finding comes days after an inadvertent command led to a total loss of communication
00:13 with the legendary spacecraft hurtling into interstellar space.
00:17 The erroneous command disrupted communication with the probe after its antenna was moved.
00:22 The DSN is an international array of massive radio antennas.
00:26 It is responsible for communicating with missions across the cosmos.
00:29 The carrier signal detection was compared to hearing the spacecraft's heartbeat.
00:34 Although it's weak at the moment, the heartbeat confirmed that Voyager 2 is still operational
00:39 and transmitting signals.
00:40 The issue arose when a series of planned commands set on July 21 inadvertently caused Voyager
00:46 2's antenna to deviate by a mere two degrees from Earth.
00:50 This seemingly insignificant shift had substantial consequences, preventing the spacecraft from
00:55 receiving any commands from mission control or sending data back to Earth.
01:00 Voyager 2, currently located more than 12.3 billion miles away in interstellar space,
01:06 was effectively cut off from its handlers on Earth.
01:08 However, the recent detection of the carrier signal has lifted the space at the Jet Propulsion
01:12 Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
01:15 The next step involves engineers attempting to send a command to Voyager 2 to reorient
01:19 its antenna back towards Earth.
01:21 Reports suggested that the task will face a lot of challenges.
01:24 It takes approximately 18.5 hours for a signal to traverse this expanse one way.
01:29 If this attempt proves unsuccessful, the team will have to wait until October 15 when Voyager
01:34 2's onboard software is programmed to automatically reset its orientation.
01:40 This built-in feature ensures the spacecraft's antenna remains pointed towards Earth, facilitating
01:45 ongoing communication.
01:46 Despite the current communication disruption, Voyager 2 continues on its planned trajectory.
01:51 Its twin, Voyager 1, which is nearly 15 billion miles from Earth, continues to operate as
02:02 expected and communicate with the DSL.
02:04 Launched in 1977, both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have provided invaluable insights into the
02:10 solar system and beyond.
02:12 Their continued operation, despite their age and the vast distances they have traveled,
02:17 is a testament to the robustness of their design developed over 45 years ago.
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