Yes, Voyager 2 is still active.
Voyager 2, launched by NASA in 1977, is a remarkable spacecraft that continues its mission exploring the cosmos. While it completed its primary planetary flybys decades ago, it is very much operational today.
According to the provided reference, the spacecraft is currently in its extended mission.
Voyager 2's Current Status
- Active Mission: Yes, it is in an extended mission phase.
- Current Task: Studying the interstellar medium (the space between star systems).
- Location (as of October 2024): 138.05 AU (which is approximately 20.7 billion km or 12.8 billion mi) from Earth. This vast distance means signals take many hours to travel to and from the spacecraft.
| Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Operational? | Yes |
| Current Mission | Interstellar Medium Study |
| Distance (Oct 2024) | ~20.7 billion km / ~12.8 billion mi |
Exploring the Interstellar Medium
Voyager 2 officially entered interstellar space in 2018, following its twin, Voyager 1. Its continued activity allows scientists to collect valuable data about the conditions and properties of the interstellar medium, a region no human-made object had explored before the Voyagers.
Key aspects of its current mission include:
- Measuring cosmic rays
- Studying the magnetic field of the interstellar space
- Analyzing plasma waves
Despite its age and distance, Voyager 2 continues to send back unique information about the edge of our solar system and the space beyond. Its power source, a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), is expected to provide power for several more years, allowing the mission to continue.
[Space Exploration]
