Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is over 24 billion km from Earth and still sending data
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NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched on September 5, 1977. It is currently the most distant human-made object in existence, having crossed into interstellar space in 2012 — beyond the heliosphere, the bubble of solar wind that surrounds our solar system. Despite being over 24 billion kilometres away, it continues to transmit data back to Earth using a 23-watt transmitter (about the power of a refrigerator lightbulb). The signal takes about 22 hours to reach us.
A 46-year-old spacecraft powered by less electricity than a lightbulb is transmitting data from interstellar space to Earth — and we are still receiving it.
The Science Behind It
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched on September 5, 1977. It is currently the most distant human-made object in existence, having crossed into interstellar space in 2012 — beyond the heliosphere, the bubble of solar wind that surrounds our solar system. Despite being over 24 billion kilometres away, it continues to transmit data back to Earth using a 23-watt transmitter (about the power of a refrigerator lightbulb). The signal takes about 22 hours to reach us.
Why Your Brain Finds This Hard to Believe
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Read our Editorial Guidelines →“Voyager 1 is 24 billion km away and still sending signals on the power of a lightbulb. It has been flying since 1977.”