1. Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is now moving towards a historic milestone in space.
Voyager 1 was launched by NASA in 1977. Now in 2026, it is going to touch that point where the light sent from the Earth will take 24 hours to reach—that is, one light-day away. This is considered a very big achievement in human history.
2. Voyager 1 will be 25.9 billion km away in 2026.
When this historic moment comes, Voyager 1 will be about 25.9 billion kilometers away from the Earth. Any light ray will take one day to reach there.
3. The spacecraft is still moving at a speed of 61,195 km/h.
Voyager 1 may be ‘slow’ in terms of space, but it is still traveling at a speed of 61,195 km/h and has become the farthest man-made object to date.
4. The exciting moment of crossing the “Wall of Fire”
Voyager crossed the heliosphere (shield of solar winds) in 2012, which is called the “Wall of Fire.” The temperature in this region ranges from 54,000 to 90,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but Voyager 1 came out safely from these dangerous conditions.
5. Historical observations made on Jupiter and Saturn
Voyager 1 took spectacular pictures of the moons and rings of Jupiter (1979) and Saturn (1980). It discovered many new moons and helped in better understanding the structure of the planets.
6. Message of humanity—Golden Record
Voyager 1 is carrying with it the “Golden Record,” which includes sounds, languages, and culture related to Earth. Its purpose is to introduce human civilization to any extraterrestrial life in case of contact.
7. NASA is still trying to keep Voyager 1 alive.
In 2004, some of its thrusters had stopped working, but NASA recently restarted them. This proves how strong our commitment is towards the spacecraft sent into space.
8. Many instruments are shut down due to limited energy, but main work continues.
Many scientific instruments on Voyager 1 have been shut down to save energy and extend its life till 2030. The devices that are working now are sending us interstellar data.
9. Will Voyager 1 meet alien life?
One of the major missions of Voyager 1 is to search for the possibility of extraterrestrial life. No such contact has been made yet, but it is sending data from parts of space where no one else has reached.
10. Voyager 1: A technological marvel of humanity
Voyager 1 is not just a spacecraft but a testament to the power of human imagination, courage and science. It has shown how far we can think and go. When it crosses a distance of one light-day in 2026, it will forever be immortalized in human history.
