Interstellar Missions and Discoveries - Part 2

The Voyager Missions

The Voyager missions are among the most iconic interstellar missions conducted by NASA. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have provided valuable data about the outer planets of our solar system and continue to explore interstellar space.

Key Discoveries:

• Both Voyager probes discovered active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon, Io.
• Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth and has entered interstellar space.
• Voyager 2 provided the first close-up images of Uranus and Neptune.

The New Horizons Mission

Launched in 2006, the New Horizons mission was designed to study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. In 2015, New Horizons made a historic flyby of Pluto, providing stunning images and valuable data about this distant dwarf planet.

Notable Achievements:

• New Horizons discovered that Pluto has a hazy atmosphere and icy mountains.
• The mission provided detailed images of Pluto's surface, revealing diverse geological features.
• New Horizons is currently on its way to explore the Kuiper Belt further.

The Breakthrough Starshot Initiative

The Breakthrough Starshot initiative is a proposed interstellar mission that aims to send small, light-powered spacecraft to the Alpha Centauri star system. This ambitious project could revolutionize our understanding of interstellar travel and exploration.

Key Features:

• The spacecraft will be equipped with light sails and propelled by powerful lasers.
• Breakthrough Starshot aims to reach speeds of up to 20% of the speed of light.
• If successful, the mission could provide valuable insights into nearby exoplanetary systems.

Interstellar missions and discoveries continue to push the boundaries of human exploration and scientific knowledge. With each new mission, we uncover more about the vastness of space and our place within it.