Update August 1: A faint signal from Voyager 2 has been detected by NASA's DSN, indicating the spacecraft is still operational and on course. NASA will try to command the spacecraft to reorient its antenna earlier than the scheduled October reset, potentially reestablishing communication sooner. NA

NASA’s Voyager 2 has lost communication with Earth due to an unintentional shift in its antenna direction. The next programmed orientation adjustment on October 15 is expected to restore communication, while Voyager 1 continues to operate as usual.

A series of scheduled commands directed at NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 21 led to an unintentional change in antenna direction. Consequently, the antenna moved 2 degrees off course from Earth, causing the spacecraft to lose its ability to receive commands or transmit data back to our planet.

  • Johnny5@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    And even if it was pointed at random human equipment it’s so far away that you need a very special radio and antenna; not just any old satellite is necessarily going to do the trick. I think the signal strength is around -196db iirc so incredibly faint, and The antennas they use to communicate with voyager are massive.