Voyager 1 vs Voyager 2
When it comes to space exploration, it's hard to match the achievements of the Voyager probes. Launched by NASA in 1977, the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft have gone further than any other man-made object, passing beyond our solar system and into interstellar space. But which one is the better spacecraft? That's the question we're going to explore in this article.
The Basics
First, let's look at the basic specs of each spacecraft:
| Voyager 1 | Voyager 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | September 5, 1977 | August 20, 1977 |
| Mission Duration | Over 44 years and counting | Over 44 years and counting |
| Distance from Earth (as of October 2021) | 14.3 billion miles | 12.2 billion miles |
| Speed | 38,200 mph | 34,390 mph |
| Power Source | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) |
| Mission Objective | Explore the outer solar system and beyond | Explore the outer solar system and beyond |
From the table above, it's clear that both Voyager probes are very similar in terms of their basic specifications.
Scientific Instruments
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 missions had different trajectories and explored different parts of our solar system, which meant that they carried different scientific instruments. Here is a comparison of some of the key instruments on each spacecraft:
Voyager 1 Instruments
- Plasma Spectrometer (PLS)
- Low Energy Charged Particle Instrument (LECP)
- Cosmic Ray Subsystem (CRS)
- Magnetometer (MAG)
- Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer and Radiometer (IRIS)
- Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS)
- Photopolarimeter System (PPS)
Voyager 2 Instruments
- Plasma Science Experiment (PLS)
- Triaxial Fluxgate Magnetometer (TFG)
- Low Energy Charged Particle Instrument (LECP)
- Cosmic Ray System (CRS)
- Plasma Wave Subsystem (PWS)
- Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer and Radiometer (IRIS)
- Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS)
As you can see, there is some overlap between the scientific instruments on each spacecraft, but there are also some key differences. For example, Voyager 1 had a Photopolarimeter System (PPS) while Voyager 2 had a Plasma Wave Subsystem (PWS).
Mission Accomplishments
Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have accomplished incredible feats over their 44+ year missions. Here are some of the key accomplishments of each spacecraft:
Voyager 1
- First spacecraft to enter interstellar space
- Discovered a hexagonal-shaped jet stream around Saturn's north pole
- Captured the famous "Pale Blue Dot" image of Earth from a distance of 4 billion miles
Voyager 2
- First spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune
- Discovered 10 new moons around Uranus
- Revealed that Neptune has an incredibly strong magnetic field
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's hard to say which spacecraft is better, as they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Voyager 1 was the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space and captured the famous "Pale Blue Dot" image, while Voyager 2 was the first spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune and made some critical discoveries about these planets. Regardless, both Voyagers have been incredibly successful, and the data they have returned has revolutionized our understanding of the outer solar system and beyond.