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NASA has reestablished full communications with Voyager 2 (jpl.nasa.gov)

481 points by mutant_glofish · 1117 days ago · 101 comments on HN

Article summary

NASA has reestablished full communications with Voyager 2 after a temporary loss of contact due to an antenna misalignment. The spacecraft is operating normally and remains on its expected trajectory. A command was sent to reorient the spacecraft's antenna, which took 37 hours to confirm. Voyager 2 is over 12.3 billion miles away from Earth and is part of the NASA Heliophysics System Observatory.

Main themes

  • Voyager 2 communication
  • spacecraft design
  • deep space exploration
  • NASA's communication systems
  • space electronics longevity
  • exceptional engineering

What commenters say

  • The temporary loss of contact with Voyager 2 was quickly resolved, demonstrating the effectiveness of NASA's communication systems.
  • The ability to reestablish contact with Voyager 2 is a testament to the spacecraft's robust design and the foresight of its creators.
  • Modern space electronics are not designed to last as long as the Voyager spacecraft, which has been operational for over 40 years.
  • The Voyager missions are an example of exceptional engineering and design, with some commenters expressing admiration for the spacecraft's longevity and performance.
  • Some commenters believe that modern technology can be designed to last just as long as the Voyager spacecraft, citing examples such as the Curiosity and Ingenuity missions.
  • The Voyager spacecraft's ability to automatically reorient its antenna is a remarkable feature that has helped maintain communication with Earth.
  • The story of Voyager 2's temporary loss of contact has sparked discussion about the challenges of deep space communication and the importance of robust design in space exploration.