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Voyager program

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

An artist's impression of the Voyager space probes exploring the outer planets of our solar system.

The Amazing Voyager Spacecraft

The Voyager program is a special group of two amazing space machines called Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. These spacecraft were launched in 1977 to explore faraway places in space. They flew close to big planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The Voyagers collected important information and sent pictures back to scientists on Earth.

After visiting the planets, the Voyagers continued their journey into a place called interstellar space. This is the area beyond our Solar System. On August 25, 2012, Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space. Voyager 2 followed on November 5, 2019. As of 2026, both spacecraft are still working and sending data back to Earth. They have traveled farther from our planet than any other objects made by humans.

Each Voyager carries a special golden record filled with pictures and sounds from Earth. This record is a message to anyone who might find the spacecraft in the future. The record includes directions on how to play it and information about our world. It was made by a team of experts, including Carl Sagan.

One of the most famous pictures ever taken is called the Pale Blue Dot. It was photographed by Voyager 1 from far away. The picture shows Earth looking like a tiny pale blue dot in space. This image helps us remember how small our world is and why we should care for each other and our home.

Images

Diagram showing the parts of the Voyager spacecraft, including its instruments and systems.
A diagram showing the spectral range of the Clear filter used by the cameras on the Voyager spacecraft to capture images of space.
Diagram showing the ultraviolet light range captured by the Voyager spacecraft's camera filters.
A color spectrum showing the violet filter range used by cameras on the Voyager spacecraft to study space.
A scientific illustration showing the blue light filter used by the cameras on the Voyager spacecraft to study space.
A diagram showing the green color filter range used by the cameras on the Voyager spacecraft to study space.
A scientific illustration showing the spectral range of the '3 - ORANGE' filter used by the cameras on the Voyager spacecraft.
A diagram showing the spectral range of a methane filter used by the Voyager spacecraft's camera during space exploration.
A diagram showing the spectral range of the '4 - SODIUM-D' filter used by the Voyager spacecraft's camera.
A color filter used by NASA's Voyager spacecraft to study the visible spectrum in space.
A deployed magnetometer boom from one of NASA's Voyager spacecraft, used to study magnetic fields in space.
Scientist graphs show how Voyager 2 detected changes in space as it entered interstellar space, with instruments measuring solar wind.
Scientific instruments from NASA's Voyager spacecraft, including cameras and detectors used to explore space.
Instrument used by NASA's Voyager spacecraft to study charged particles in space.

Related articles

Voyager 1
Voyager 2
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Voyager program, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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