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Voyager 1 loses contact with NASA, turns on retro transmitter not used since 1981 (www.livescience.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 2 weeks ago (16 children)

It's sad it'll probably lose contact relatively soon. Does anyone know if there are any plans for a new long distance probe?

[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (12 children)

They're already out there. Just don't get as much news as Voyager. Unfortunately I don't think any will be capable of lasting as long since we stopped using the radio isotope generators. New horizons is currently in the Kupier belt. It's the 5th such probe to reach escape velocity from our solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 were the other non-voyager probes.

Edit: I was incorrect, new horizons does use an RTG for power. But right now its mission is slated to end in 2029. I wonder if it will be kept alive like the Voyager probes.

Edit 2: yeah, the RTG is slated to run out of power to run the transmitters in the 2030s. It was originally designed to be more powerful but the DOE delayed delivery of the plutonium 238 required.