NASA's Voyager 1 reaches one light-day from Earth

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 17:31 · Archive

NASA's Voyager 1 has become humanity's first object to reach one light-day from Earth, over 26 billion kilometres away.

NASA's Voyager 1 has reached one light-day from Earth, becoming humanity's first object to achieve this distance. That milestone represents more than 26 billion kilometres. When Voyager 1 reaches this point, its radio signals take precisely 24 hours travelling at the speed of light to reach Earth.

The spacecraft was launched 49 years ago and continues to send back science and engineering data despite sporadic problems typical of its age. It travels at 61,000 kilometres per hour. Voyager 1's twin, Voyager 2, will not reach the one light-day mark until 2035. Both spacecraft entered what NASA defines as interstellar space—the region between star systems—in 2012 and 2018 respectively.

Voyager 1 project manager Suzanne Dodd described it as Earth's ambassador hurtling between stars, calling it "a national treasure" that provides a "sense of wonder". NASA estimates another 18,000 years before Voyager 1 achieves a full light-year, and more than double that before it approaches another star.

How it is being reported

• NASA's Voyager 1 nears light-day in interstellar spaceNASA's Voyager 1 is about to become humanity's first object to reach one light-day from Earth.Perth Now · 14 Nov, 17:01
• NASA's Voyager 1 nears light-day in interstellar spaceNASA's Voyager 1 is about to become humanity's first object to reach one light-day from Earth.The West Australian · 14 Nov, 17:01

In this story: NASA · Voyager 1 · Voyager 2 · Suzanne Dodd · Earth

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