NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has experienced a computer glitch that’s causing a bit of a communication breakdown between the 46-year-old probe and its mission team on Earth.

  • originalfrozenbanana@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    For those who didn’t read the article, voyager 1 is still sending and transmitting data. It’s stuck in a loop sending the same packets to Earth on repeat but it is receiving commands just fine. It’s not completely dark.

      • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        It takes 45 hours and that’s a good question.

        Perhaps there are multiple distinct channels with one for command responses and another for scientific data?

    • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Ideally it was an update issue and it’s fixable. However I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a hardware failure due to radiation or something similar. That said, Voyager1 has power only until 2025 or so, since RTGs are designed to last that much. So even if the issue is fixed, its life will only expand by few years. Also, the fact it relies on nuclear power means none of the new stuff will last as long since they stopped using them some time ago due to fear from nuclear energy.

        • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Am thinking people were mostly worried if rocket explodes during liftoff. Then again people also are completely clueless about radiation in general, especially smokers.

          • MrShankles@reddthat.com
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            1 year ago

            As a smoker: I’m not clueless, I just don’t love myself more than the addiction. But I’m getting there, cause breathing “easily” is an under-rated pleasure, when compared to… not breathing that well

            It can take time to break the mental stuff before breaking the habit, regardless of understood risk

            Now magnets though… I’m at a complete fucking loss

            • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              My point is that not many people know that tobacco contains lead-210 and polonium-210. This is why waping is safer, even though it still carries health risks it doesn’t have radioactive elements which deposit in your lungs. And it’s not a negligible amount of radiation. You’d be safer living next to Chernobyl plant before it was contained than smoking a pack a day. Do yourself a favor and switch to electronic stuff.

          • Meowoem@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            One of the main people who raised concern about rockets full of nuclear material exploding above populated areas was mitchio kaku. He certainly has a good few clues about radiation and nuclear physics.

      • Elbrar@pawb.social
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        1 year ago

        RTGs are still used for outer solar system missions. Not enough light for solar panels. Hell, even the Perseverance Mars rover, which was launched in 2020, has an RTG.