National Aeronautics and Space Administration EW-2005-12-012-JPL Voyager Mission Profi le Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL 400-1003, Rev. 2 12/05 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California JPL 410-053 The twin Voyager spacecraft were launched in August Since 1990, the Voyagers have been involved in an interstel- The Voyager Spacecraft and September 1977 on a mission to explore Jupiter and lar mission to characterize the far outer heliosphere, the Imaging Narrow Angle Ultraviolet Spectrometer Saturn. After having completed those objectives, Voyager 1 distant solar wind, and the interaction between the two. Imaging Wide Angle Infrared Spectrometer and continued on a path toward interstellar space while This phase of the mission will allow us to explore the most Plasma Radiometer Voyager 2 continued on to be the fi rst spacecraft to explore distant reaches of our heliosphere and to take the fi rst ten- Photopolarimeter Cosmic Ray Uranus and Neptune. After its August 1989 encounter with tative steps in the transition regions between space domi- Low-Energy Charged Neptune, Voyager 2 headed out of the solar system but in nated by the Sun and interstellar space. On February 17, Particle Detector a different direction than Voyager 1. In the course of their 1998, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made High-Gain Antenna fl ybys of the giant outer planets, the Voyagers discovered object in the universe, passing beyond 10.4 billion kilome- (3.7-meter or Bus Housing Electronics 12-foot diameter) Optical ters (6.5 billion miles) from the Sun. (The previous record Calibration was held by NASA’s Pioneer 10 spacecraft.) To put this dis- Target and tance into perspective, imagine that in the time it takes you Radiator to count from 1 to 3, you could have traveled 52 kilometers (32 miles) if you had been moving at Voyager 1’s current rate of 17.3 kilometers per second (about 39,000 miles per High-Field Magnetometer (2) Planetary Radio hour), relative to the Sun. And consider this: Voyager 1 has Astronomy and Plasma Wave been traveling at close to that speed for more than 24 years. Low-Field Antenna (2) Magnetometer (2) The Voyager spacecraft are now on a unique exploratory mission. The two spacecraft are exploring regions of space never before encountered, building on the legacy of one of NASA’s most successful and productive solar system mis- Radioisotope Thermoelectric sions. The Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM) is critical for Generator (3) meeting several science objectives of NASA’s Sun–Earth Connection Enterprise. One of these objectives is to “under- stand our changing Sun and the effects throughout the solar system.” Voyager is the only mission exploring the outer heliosphere and is thus in a prime position to contribute to the understanding on a global scale of the space carved volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io, identifi ed 25 new out of the interstellar medium by the Sun. Because of their moons, characterized the atmospheres and chemical unique positions, the Voyagers are poised to contribute to and geological compositions of the four planets, and another science objective: “Use the exotic space environ- characterized the properties of the interplanetary solar ments within our solar system as natural science labora- wind. The fi ndings were monumental and drastically tories and cross the outer boundary of the solar system to changed our understanding of the gaseous planets and explore the nearby environments of our galaxy.” the solar wind out to the orbits of Neptune and Pluto. 1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration EW-2005-12-012-JPL The People Behind the Mission Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL 400-1003, Rev. 2 12/05 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California JPL 410-053 “Finding a moon [Io, one of Jupiter’s moons] that’s 100 In addition to manag- times more active volcanically than the entire Earth.” ing two JPL projects, Ed Massey partici- From 1991 to 2001, Ed Stone was director of the Jet Pro- pates in both project pulsion Laboratory while continuing his role as Voyager education and public Project Scientist. Dr. Stone has returned to Caltech as a outreach programs. professor, scientist, and researcher still reaping the riches By personally answer- of the Voyager data. Dr. Stone’s schedule is still extremely ing e-mails from the busy since he retired as director of JPL, yet he manages public, he knows to carve out time to participate in education and public fi rst hand what they outreach activities at local schools, encouraging students are interested in. Ed Since 1961, Dr. Edward C. Stone has been a principal towards careers in space and science. Dr. Stone received volunteers at the an- investigator on nine NASA spacecraft and a co-investigator his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in physics from nual JPL Open House on fi ve other NASA missions. He has served as the project the University of Chicago. answering questions, assisting with educational activities, scientist for the Voyager mission since 1972, coordinating and doing one-on-one interviews with high school students. the studies of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and He was chair of the JPL Director’s Advisory Committee on the continuing search for the edge of interstellar space. Minority Affairs for fi ve years. When asked what scientifi c discovery surprised him most Mr. Ed B. Massey is the manager of the Voyager about the Voyagers or other JPL missions, Dr. Stone replied, Ed is married and has two adult daughters. He enjoys play- Interstellar Mission and the NASA portion of the joint ing racquetball and regularly accepts a challenging game NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Ulysses mission to from fellow JPLers. In his spare time, he is editor of his high study the Sun. Since joining the Jet Propulsion Laboratory school alumni newsletter and website. Ed is a mentor and in 1987, he has served as Ulysses Project Controller, Sci- friend to many who have had contact with him. ence Instruments Manager, and Operations and Engineer- ing Manager. In 1998, when management of the Voyager and Ulysses projects was combined, Mr. Massey became manager of both projects. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Massey had exten- sive professional work experience in military space opera- tions and acquisition prior to coming to JPL. He has a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tuskegee University and an M.S. degree in systems management from the Uni- versity of Southern California. 2 National Aeronautics and Space Administration EW-2005-12-012-JPL A Message to the Universe Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL 400-1003, Rev. 2 12/05 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California JPL 410-053 Number Operations — Compute fl uently and make reason- lying aboard Voyagers 1 and 2 are identical “golden” F able estimates. phonograph records, carrying the story of Earth far into deep space. The 12-inch gold-plated copper discs contain Science Standards greetings in 54 different languages, samples of music from different cultures and eras, natural and human-made Source: National Science Education Standards, National Research sounds from Earth, and 117 pictures explaining ourselves Council, Washington, D.C. (1999) and the planet Earth. The discs also contain electronic information that an advanced technological civilization Activity — Voyager 1 and 2: Where Are You? could convert into diagrams and photographs. The cover of Grades 6–8 each gold-plated aluminum jacket, designed to protect the Earth and Space Science record from micrometeorite bombardment, also serves a • The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in a system that double purpose in providing the fi nder with a “key” to play includes the moon, Sun, and eight other planets and their the record. This explanatory diagram appears on both the moons. outer and inner surfaces of the cover, as the outer diagram will be eroded over time. Some of the scenes and sounds • Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predict- from the Voyager Golden Record can be viewed and heard able motion. at the Voyager Project website at http://voyager.jpl. • Gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the nasa.gov/. Voyager 1 fl ew past Jupiter in March 1979 and Sun and governs the rest of the motion in the solar system. Saturn in November 1980 before heading out of our solar Number Operations — Understand meanings of operations system. Voyager 2 surveyed Jupiter in July 1979, Saturn in and how they relate to one another. Activity — Where Is Voyager Going? August 1981, Uranus in January 1986, and Neptune in Au- Grades 6–8 Communication — Communicate their mathematical gust 1989. Both spacecraft are moving so fast that they will thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and Science and Technology never return to our solar system. others. • Technology is essential to science, because it provides instruments and techniques that enable observations of Standards Addressed by Voyager Activities Geometry — Specify locations and describe spatial relation- objects and phenomena that are otherwise unobservable Mathematical Standards ships using coordinate geometry and other representational methods. due to factors such as distance. Source: Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, • Technology provides tools for investigations, inquiry, and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Reston, VA analysis. (2000) Activity — Where Is Voyager Going? Grades 6–8 Activity — Voyager 1 and 2: Where Are You? Representation — Use representations to model and inter- Educators — Grades 6–8 pret physical and mathematical phenomena. Please take a moment to evaluate this product at Measurement — Understand measurable attributes Connections — Recognize and apply mathematics in con- http://ehb2.gsfc.nasa.gov/edcats/educational_wallsheet of objects and the units, systems, and processes of texts outside of mathematics.