NASA lost contact with the interstellar Voyager 1 spacecraft for nearly a week after a technical glitch shut off the probe's main transmitter. Using Voyager's weaker backup transmitter, engineers are assessing the problem from 15 billion miles away.
They’re already out there. Just don’t get as much news as Voyager. Unfortunately I don’t think any will be capable of lasting as long since we stopped using the radio isotope generators. New horizons is currently in the Kupier belt. It’s the 5th such probe to reach escape velocity from our solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 were the other non-voyager probes.
Edit: I was incorrect, new horizons does use an RTG for power. But right now its mission is slated to end in 2029. I wonder if it will be kept alive like the Voyager probes.
Edit 2: yeah, the RTG is slated to run out of power to run the transmitters in the 2030s. It was originally designed to be more powerful but the DOE delayed delivery of the plutonium 238 required.
He did change his tune after he became Secretary of Energy.
Also, May 15, 2023 — Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry would not support former President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign when asked on Sunday,
They’re already out there. Just don’t get as much news as Voyager. Unfortunately I don’t think any will be capable of lasting as long since we stopped using the radio isotope generators. New horizons is currently in the Kupier belt. It’s the 5th such probe to reach escape velocity from our solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 were the other non-voyager probes.
Edit: I was incorrect, new horizons does use an RTG for power. But right now its mission is slated to end in 2029. I wonder if it will be kept alive like the Voyager probes.
Edit 2: yeah, the RTG is slated to run out of power to run the transmitters in the 2030s. It was originally designed to be more powerful but the DOE delayed delivery of the plutonium 238 required.
Dept of Education? D O Emissions? Can’t figure it out even with some searching
Department of Energy. The main role is to handle the radioactive materials that the government creates and uses
Also one of the three departments Rick Perry (R-Texas) couldn’t remember that he wanted to eliminate.
“See? If there is no government agency handlin’ radioactive waste, that problem goes away!”
He did change his tune after he became Secretary of Energy.
Also, May 15, 2023 — Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry would not support former President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign when asked on Sunday,
Department of Entropy
Department of Enthalpy
Department of Energy.
Department of Energy
Cool. Thank you for the info. I’ll have to look them up.
Sorry I put a couple updates in there as well.