Into the Unknown!

[Warped]

Artist's rendering depicts the Voyager 2 spacecraft as it studies the outer limits of the heliosphere - a magnetic 'bubble' around the Solar System that is created by the solar wind. Scientists observed the magnetic bubble is not spherical, but pressed inward in the southern hemisphere. Credit: NASA/JPL

Problem Detected with Voyager 2 Spacecraft at Edge of Solar System

NASA has commanded the famed Voyager 2 probe to send only information on its health and status after spotting a puzzling change in the spacecraft's pattern of communication from the edge of the solar system.

The 33-year-old Voyager 2 spacecraft, which is currently 8.6 billion miles (13.8 billion km) from Earth, is apparently still in good health, according to the latest engineering data received on May 1. But Voyager 2's flight data system, which formats information before beaming it back to Earth, has experienced a hiccup that altered the pattern in which it sends updates home.

Because of that pattern change, mission managers can no longer decode the science data beamed to Earth from Voyager 2. The space probe and its twin Voyager 1 are flying through the bubble-like heliosphere, created by the sun, which surrounds our solar system.

The first hint of a problem came on April 22, when engineers first spotted the data pattern change. Since then, they've been working to fix the glitch and began sending commands back to Voyager 2 on April 30.

Because Voyager 2 is so far from Earth, it takes 13 hours for a message to reach the spacecraft and another 13 hours for responses to come back to NASA's Deep Space Network of listening antennas around the world.

"Voyager 2's initial mission was a four-year journey to Saturn, but it is still returning data 33 years later," said Voyager project scientist Ed Stone of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "It has already given us remarkable views of Uranus and Neptune, planets we had never seen close-up before. We will know soon what it will take for it to continue its epic journey of discovery."

Voyager 2 took a so-called "grand tour" of the solar system when it visited the gas giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the 1980s by taking advantage of a rare planetary alignment that occurs once every 176 years.

The two space probes were built primarily to study Jupiter and Saturn, but Voyager 2 also swing by Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989 during its extended mission.

NASA launched Voyager 2 on Aug. 20,1977, just two weeks before Voyager 1. Together, the two spacecraft are the most distant human-built objects in space. Voyager 1 is about 10.5 billion miles (16.9 billion km) away from Earth and in perfect health, mission managers said.

I think of all the programs learning about our local solar system, these seem the most interesting

 

[VirusType2]

It has already given us remarkable views of Uranus

I am so ****ing immature, but I ****in lol'd

This is a cool story. 33 years is a pretty good run, I'd say. Hope they can get it working or continue to make it useful.

 

[Tyguy]

It's traveling at 60 km/s...not bad.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Spoiler

V'Ger!

 

[Warped]

It's traveling at 60 km/s...not bad.

I always had this theory that this device would travel faster once out of the influence of the sun and effects of the Heliosphere. It would be awesome if some alien caught it, sent it back to us and sent us a message

 

[Tyguy]

It would be awesome if some alien caught it, sent it back to us and sent us a message

It's interesting, I'm taking a course entitled Cosmic Evolution which is taught by Dr. Eric Chaisson. He's an astrophysicist who basically headed the team that put hubble in space. He was also NASA's liaison to the White House and CIA. And if that isn't cool enough, the room we have class in was used for a lecture given by Einstein and Sagan, et. al.

Anyway, he showed us this picture last class. It's a plaque on both the Pioneer spacecraft.

Then we changed it for Voyager.

 

[Raziaar]

Why no more human representation? The feeling that it would give them an unfair advantage to designing restraint devices, already prepped and ready to go by the time they get here?

Why the hell does the pioneer plaque have an arrow on it anyway? As if the aliens would have a concept of arrows!

 

[Tyguy]

Why no more human representation?

After NASA had received criticism over the nudity on the Pioneer plaque (line drawings of a naked man and woman), the agency chose not to allow Sagan and his colleagues to include a photograph of a nude man and woman on the record. Instead, only a silhouette of the couple was included.

OH NO!!!! THE ALIENS MIGHT SEE A PEEPEE!!!!

Why the hell does the pioneer plaque have an arrow on it anyway? As if the aliens would have a concept of arrows!

I'd hope an arrow would be self explanatory...but ya never know

 

[AJ Rimmer]

I always had this theory that this device would travel faster once out of the influence of the sun and effects of the Heliosphere.

I've heard you say this several times- may I ask what you base this on?

 

[Bad^Hat]

Because of that pattern change, mission managers can no longer decode the science data beamed to Earth from Voyager 2.

SCIENCE DATA.

After NASA had received criticism over the nudity on the Pioneer plaque (line drawings of a naked man and woman), the agency chose not to allow Sagan and his colleagues to include a photograph of a nude man and woman on the record. Instead, only a silhouette of the couple was included.

Wouldn't want to offend the alien's christian sensibilities.

 

[VirusType2]

I've heard you say this several times- may I ask what you base this on?

I don't know about that, but gravity from our solar system (especially Jupiter and the Sun) would have a large influence on a space probe. Gravity is extremely weak, however, and - I'm not sure if I misunderstood the physicist - but I understood him to say that gravity never fully fades away, no matter the distance.

I'm not sure. It sounds a little incredible, as I would think at a certain distance an object would no longer have any influence. I would like to read more on the subject or if anyone has some answers.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

I don't know about that, but gravity from our solar system (especially Jupiter and the Sun) would have a large influence on a space probe. Gravity is extremely weak, however, and - I'm not sure if I misunderstood the physicist - but I understood him to say that gravity never fully fades away, no matter the distance.

I'm not sure. It sounds a little incredible, as I would think at a certain distance an object would no longer have any influence. I would like to read more on the subject or if anyone has some answers.

Yeah, but the thing is that that would only cause Voyager to remain at current speed. It wouldn't speed up it would only stop slowing down.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

It's interesting, I'm taking a course entitled Cosmic Evolution which is taught by Dr. Eric Chaisson. He's an astrophysicist who basically headed the team that put hubble in space. He was also NASA's liaison to the White House and CIA. And if that isn't cool enough, the room we have class in was used for a lecture given by Einstein and Sagan, et. al.

Anyway, he showed us this picture last class. It's a plaque on both the Pioneer spacecraft.

I envy you man.

I wonder if the wind beyond the heliosphere may be taking its toll on the poor craft's electronics

 

[VirusType2]

Yeah, but the thing is that that would only cause Voyager to remain at current speed. It wouldn't speed up it would only stop slowing down.

I just discovered that Voyager 1 holds a speed record:

Fastest Solar Escape Velocity (or Fastest Interstellar Speed): 38,600 mph (62,100 km/h)

Unrelated, but interesting: The Apollo 10 command module entered Earth's atmosphere in 1969 at a speed of 24,790 mph (39,885 km/h) while carrying a crew of three astronauts.

 

[Kinslayer]

I don't know about that, but gravity from our solar system (especially Jupiter and the Sun) would have a large influence on a space probe. Gravity is extremely weak, however, and - I'm not sure if I misunderstood the physicist - but I understood him to say that gravity never fully fades away, no matter the distance.

I'm not sure. It sounds a little incredible, as I would think at a certain distance an object would no longer have any influence. I would like to read more on the subject or if anyone has some answers.

It's the same with electromagnetic.

Inverse-square relationship with the distance.

,

Not too complicated. Asymptotically approaches zero.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...GPN-2000-001978.jpg/478px-GPN-2000-001978.jpg

Are aliens supposed to get this? Because I sure as shit don't.

 

[Tyguy]

it's explained in the wiki. the binary code written around the record player picture is pretty interesting...

 

[Warped]

I've heard you say this several times- may I ask what you base this on?

a far less gravitational pull and if heading in the right direction, and galaxy winds.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Well, it's not like they're necessarily gonna get it right away, but how else are we supposed to make it clearer... written instructions?

 

[Escaep]

Well, it's not like they're necessarily gonna get it right away, but how else are we supposed to make it clearer... written instructions?

They'll just plug it into their Garmin and go.

 

[Warped]

Unpiloted Daedalus star probe design was the output from a British Interplanetary Society study completed in the late 1970s. Credit: © David A. Hardy at www.astroart.org

Futuristic Interstellar Space Probe Idea Revisited

New technologies and the growing number of alien planets being discovered are fueling a new look at a plans for a futuristic interstellar probe into deep space.

A dedicated study team has formed Project Icarus, an international initiative of the U.S.-based Tau Zero Foundation in collaboration with the British Interplanetary Society (BIS).

The multi-talented group is delving into everything under our the sun to develop designs for the interstellar spaceship, from inertial confinement fusion to reviewing the latest in nanotechnology, computing, and electronics, as well as identifying target star destinations.

Today's Project Icarus signals a bit of a baton-passing from a BIS-backed star ship appraisal called Daedalus that was done in the late 1970s.

"The Project Daedalus theoretical engineering design study took place over three decades ago. In the time since, there have been many advances in science and technology," said Kelvin Long, a key Icarus designer.

"There is a need to maintain interest in and the capability to design interstellar probes," Long told SPACE.com. "With many of the historical leaders in this field now nearing retirement or deceased, the Project Icarus study group wants to take up the baton and keep alive the long term vision that travel to the stars will one day be possible. This is one of the reasons why over half of the team is relatively fresh out of their university studies."

Think outside the box

Designing an unpiloted Project Icarus space probe is requiring the time and energy of some 20 volunteer designers. Taking on interstellar travel this 21st century go-round is estimated to consume around 30,000 man/woman hours of effort, with submission of the final study reports due for 2014.

Many of the original Project Daedalus study participants are providing guidance.

Long said that Project Icarus is an exercise in theoretical engineering to the extreme. Project Icarus, he said, will take another look at several of the Daedalus assumptions and systems. Furthermore, an objective of the initiative is to continue to inspire the next generation.

"Icarus may not be the blueprint for how we first reach the stars, but it is hoped that it will be an important contribution towards this long term goal. Another purpose of Project Icarus is to remind space agency mission planners to think outside of the box," he said.

Long-haul roadmap

The intellectual thrust behind Project Icarus will measure, for one, the technological maturity of fusion-based propulsion schemes. Key technological stepping stones are to be identified. In short, a long-haul roadmap to the stars is on the group's to-do list to make such a mission possible.

"This would provide an estimate for the earliest time upon which such a mission could be launched. This may be in the latter part of this century, sometime in the 22nd century or even later," Long observed.

The Project Daedalus effort of decades ago proposed mining Helium-3 (He3) from the gas giant Jupiter which necessitated a massive space based infrastructure.

Fast forward to today means that the Project Icarus group will re-evaluate this fuel acquisition tactic and consider alternatives - such as mining He3 from Earth's moon or exhume deuterium from objects in the Oort cloud. Moreover, the assumed Daedalus propellant combination of deuterium and He3 will also be re-examined, as will implosion-driving schemes.

Fusion of ideas

Long said that the choice of mainly fusion-based propulsion for the project was made because it is believed to be one of the strong candidates for how the first interstellar missions will be achieved in future decades or centuries hence.

"There are other proposals which are credible, such as solar sails...but fusion certainly offers the required performance for an interstellar mission, provided you can make the technology work," Long noted. Project Icarus aims to build on the first-rate work of Project Daedalus, by refining the design with updated knowledge in science and technology, he said.

"Primarily, we have over thirty years of new data on experimental fusion, and thus have a deeper understanding of the process," said Richard Obousy, primary propulsion lead of the study group. Possibly one of the most exciting advances, he said, is the suggestion that antimatter itself, in very small quantities, could be used as a catalyst for fusion ignition.

"All these technologies could certainly optimize the original Daedalus design, meaning less mass for the propulsion system and more possibilities for the payload. We hope our study will result in a faster and less massive design," Obousy said.

Most suitable target?

Given the gulf between our solar system and another star system, long distance data transmission from the Icarus probe is a tricky issue.

According to the team's communications lead, Pat Galea, solutions range from examining the potential for powerful lasers to broadcast data back to Earth, to more exotic – but physically plausible – mechanisms, such as using the sun as a gravitational lens to focus the distant transmissions onto a deep-space receiver craft.

"We are aiming for a technically credible solution for Icarus," Galea added, "so there's a lot of model building and number crunching ahead before we can decide on the optimum solution."

With the onslaught of exo-planet detections, with far more to come, what's the most suitable target for the first mission of an interstellar probe?

Long responded that Epsilon Eridani, 10.7 light years away, is a good candidate as infrared observations have detected dust rings suggestive of a planetary system.

"Ideally, we would like to identify Earth-like worlds in the habitable zone and this is an ongoing research program in the astronomical community," Long pointed out. "However, the choice must be balanced with engineering design constraints and what is realistically possible within a 100 year mission, one of the requirements for Project Icarus."

Renewed spirit of adventure

"It is about time to put some systematic work into assessing to what degree the advances since Daedalus have made interstellar flight easier...and to recheck where we stand today... and what we need to do to make progress," said Marc Millis, President of the Tau Zero Foundation, based in Fairview Park, Ohio.

Millis is an Icarus consultant and former project manager of the NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project at the space agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Consider what will happen when the first Earth-like exoplanet is discovered. We cannot reach such a place with the technology and science we have today. That discovery will likely spur a renewed spirit of adventure to push the edge of knowledge to create such transportation abilities," Millis said. "And that is where my cohorts and I are...looking beyond the obvious next-steps for the huge gains that will change everything... and having the patience to teach the lessons along the way."

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/interstellar-space-probe-gains-speed-100507.html

awesome idea, but its just like Pandora's Box in terms of finding things you can't unsee.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

FTL travel would be the most welcome breakthrough.

 

[VirusType2]

That's like traveling faster than reality.

EDIT: I guess I mean time traveling.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Some kind of stable wormhole shit would be cool. Maybe with the power of the LHC.

 

[Krynn72]

Why the hell does the pioneer plaque have an arrow on it anyway? As if the aliens would have a concept of arrows!

There are no arrows on the plaque.

EDIT: Oh wait, theres one. Yeah, stupid scientists.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Hey guys I found a concept for the plaque on the next Pioneer.

 

[Krynn72]

Haha its a meme thats been around for over a year and doesn't make a good joke anymore. So funny!


That felt mean.

 

[Warped]

i'd love to see us send out swarms of probes/robots but i don't think thats going to happen.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

a far less gravitational pull and if heading in the right direction, and galaxy winds.

Again, a decrease in gravitational pull will not speed it up, merely stop it slowing down.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Haha its a meme thats been around for over a year and doesn't make a good joke anymore. So funny!


That felt mean.

Also, you're a dog.