NASA Voyager 1 completes 45 years in space! And still solving mysteries

NASA Voyager 1 spacecraft began an epic journey Forty-five years ago. Surprisingly, the journey even continues to this day, while flying to the outer planets and beyond to reveal unknown facts. Have a glimpse of the Voyager 1 spacecraft journey here.

Voyager 1, the second of a twin spacecraft, was lifted off on September 5, 1977. For the journey, the Voyagers planned to use Jupiter’s gravity to ship them on to explore Saturn and its large moon Titan. (NASA)

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1/6 Voyager 1, the second of a twin spacecraft, was lifted off on September 5, 1977. For the journey, the Voyagers planned to use Jupiter’s gravity to ship them on to explore Saturn and its large moon Titan. (NASA)

On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 was launched into space. NASA informed that each Voyager carried a suite of 11 instruments to study the planets during each encounter and to learn more about interplanetary space in the outer reaches of the solar system. (NASA)

2/6 On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 was launched into space. NASA informed that each Voyager carried a suite of 11 instruments to study the planets during each encounter and to learn more about interplanetary space in the outer reaches of the solar system. (NASA)

Two weeks after the launch of Voyager 1, it turned its camera back toward its home planet and took the first single-frame image of the Earth-Moon system. Also, the spacecraft successfully traversed the asteroid belt between December 10, 1977, and September 8, 1978. The asteroid belt is the area where most of the asteroid lies. (NASA)

3/6 Two weeks after the launch of Voyager 1, it turned its camera back toward its home planet and took the first single-frame image of the Earth-Moon system. Also, the spacecraft successfully traversed the asteroid belt between December 10, 1977, and September 8, 1978. The asteroid belt is the area where most of the asteroid lies. (NASA)

Voyager 1 conducted its observations of Jupiter between January 6 and April 13, 1979, making its closest approach of 216837 miles from the planet’s center on March 5. During this observation, the spacecraft shared 19000 images of the giant which even confirmed the presence of a thin ring encircling it. (NASA)

4/6 Voyager 1 conducted its observations of Jupiter between January 6 and April 13, 1979, making its closest approach of 216837 miles from the planet’s center on March 5. During this observation, the spacecraft shared 19000 images of the giant which even confirmed the presence of a thin ring encircling it. (NASA)

Not just Jupiter, Voyager 1 began its observations of Saturn in 1980 and concluded its studies on December 14. During the encounter, the spacecraft shared 16000 images, including Saturn, its rings, and many other satellites. (NASA)

5/6 Not just Jupiter, Voyager 1 began its observations of Saturn in 1980 and concluded its studies on December 14. During the encounter, the spacecraft shared 16000 images, including Saturn, its rings, and many other satellites. (NASA)

Moreover, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made object. It also shared a mosaic of 60 images, which captured six planets of the solar system, including a pale blue dot called Earth from a distance of more than 3.7 billion miles. (NASA)

6/6 Moreover, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made object. It also shared a mosaic of 60 images, which captured six planets of the solar system, including a pale blue dot called Earth from a distance of more than 3.7 billion miles. (NASA)