Jump to content

Voyager 2: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 208.66.198.224 (talk) (HG)
←Replaced content with '{{italic title}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = Voyager 2'
Line 2: Line 2:
{{Infobox spaceflight
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Voyager 2
| name = Voyager 2
| image = Voyager spacecraft.jpg
| image_caption = Voyager 2
| mission_type = Planetary exploration
| operator = [[NASA]] / [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]]<ref name="PDS">{{cite web |url=http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/viewMissionProfile.jsp?MISSION_NAME=VOYAGER |title=VOYAGER:Mission Information |year=1989 |publisher=NASA |accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref>
| website = {{url|http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/}}
| COSPAR_ID = 1977-076A<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1977-076A|title=Voyager 2|publisher=US National Space Science Data Center|accessdate=25 August 2013}}</ref>
| SATCAT = 10271<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=10271|title=VOYAGER 2|publisher=N2YO|accessdate=25 August 2013}}</ref>
| mission_duration = {{Age in years, months and days| year=1977| month=08| day=20}} elapsed<br/><small>Planetary mission: 12&nbsp;years, 1&nbsp;month, 12&nbsp;days<br/>Interstellar mission: {{Age in years, months and days|year=1989|month=10|day=2}} elapsed (continuing)</small>
| spacecraft_type =
| manufacturer = [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|721.9|kg|lb}}
| power = 420&nbsp;watts
| launch_date = {{start-date|August 20, 1977, 14:29:00|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Titan IIIE]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41|LC-41]]
| launch_contractor =
| last_contact = <!--{{end-date|[date]}}-->
| decay_date =
|interplanetary =
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
|type = flyby
|object = [[Jupiter]]
|distance = {{convert|570000|km|mi|sp=us}}
|arrival_date = July 9, 1979, 22:29:00 UTC
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
|type = flyby
|object = [[Saturn]]
|distance = {{convert|101000|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|arrival_date = August 25, 1981, 03:24:05 UTC
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
|type = flyby
|object = [[Uranus]]
|distance = {{convert|81500|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|arrival_date = January 24, 1986, 17:59:47 UTC
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
|type = flyby
|object = [[Neptune]]
|distance = {{convert|4950|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|arrival_date = August 25, 1989, 03:56:36 UTC
}}
}}
'''''Voyager 2''''' is a {{convert|722|kg|lb|abbr=on}} [[space probe]] launched by [[NASA]] on August 20, 1977 to study the outer [[Solar System]] and eventually [[interstellar space]]. It was actually launched before [[Voyager 1]], but Voyager 1 moved faster and eventually passed it. Voyager 2 has been operating for {{Age in years, months and days| year=1977| month=08| day=20}} as of {{date}}, and the [[Deep Space Network]] is still receiving its data transmissions.<ref>NASA ''[http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/index.html Voyager - The Interstellar Mission'' Mission Overview]</ref>

At a distance of {{Convert|106.6|AU|km|abbr = on|sigfig = 4}} as of November 2, 2014 from Earth,<ref name="voyager.jpl.nasa.gov">{{cite web|author=Jpl.Nasa.Gov |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/where/index.html |title=Where are the Voyagers - NASA Voyager |publisher=Voyager.jpl.nasa.gov |date= |accessdate=2013-09-14}}</ref>
it is one of the most distant human made objects (along with [[Voyager 1]], [[Pioneer 10]] and [[Pioneer 11]]). ''Voyager 2'' is part of the [[Voyager program]] with its identical sister craft ''Voyager 1'', and is in extended mission, tasked with locating and studying the boundaries of the Solar System, including the [[Kuiper belt]], the [[heliosphere]] and [[interstellar space]].

The primary mission ended December 31, 1989 after encountering the [[Exploration of Jupiter|Jovian system]] in 1979, [[Exploration of Saturn|Saturnian system]] in 1981, [[Exploration of Uranus|Uranian system]] in 1986, and the [[Exploration of Neptune|Neptunian system]] in 1989. It is still the only spacecraft to have visited the two outer [[giant planet]]s [[Uranus]] and [[Neptune]].<!--Both the ''Voyager 2'' and the ''Voyager 1'' space probes were designed, developed, and built at the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] near [[Pasadena, California]].--> The probe is now moving at a velocity of 15.428&nbsp;km/s relative to the Sun.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/weekly-reports/index.htm | title=Voyager Mission: Weekly Reports of 15 July 2013 | accessdate=15 July 2013}}</ref>

==Mission background==

===History===
Conceived in the 1960s, a [[Planetary Grand Tour|Grand tour]] proposal to study the outer planets prompted [[NASA]] to begin work on a mission in the early 1970s. The development of the interplanetary probes coincided with an alignment of the planets, making possible a mission to the outer Solar System by taking advantage of the then-new technique of [[gravity assist]].

It was determined that utilizing gravity assists would enable a single probe to visit the four [[gas giant]]s ([[Jupiter]], [[Saturn]], [[Uranus]], and [[Neptune]]) while requiring a minimal amount of propellant and a shorter transit duration between planets. Originally, ''Voyager 2'' was planned as '''Mariner 12''' of the [[Mariner program]]; however, due to congressional budget cuts, the mission was scaled back to be a flyby of Jupiter and Saturn, and renamed the Mariner Jupiter-Saturn probes. As the program progressed, the name was later changed to Voyager as the probe designs began to differ greatly from previous Mariner missions.<ref>[http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/science/planetary.html Planetary Voyage] [[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] – California Institute of Technology. March 23, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2007.</ref>

Upon a successful flyby of the Saturnian moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] by ''[[Voyager 1]]'', ''Voyager 2'' would get a mission extension to send the probe on towards Uranus and Neptune, ultimately realizing the vision of the Planetary Grand Tour.<ref>[http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter11.html '' Chapter 11 "Voyager: The Grand Tour of Big Science"] (sec. 268.), by Andrew, J. Butrica, found in ''From Engineering Science To Big Science'' ISBN 978-0-16-049640-0 edited by Pamela E. Mack, NASA, 1998</ref>

===Spacecraft design===
Constructed by the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL), ''Voyager 2'' included 16 [[hydrazine]] thrusters, [[three-axis stabilization]], [[gyroscopes]] and celestial referencing instruments (Sun sensor/[[Canopus]] Star Tracker) to maintain pointing of the [[high-gain antenna]] toward Earth. Collectively these instruments are part of the Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem ('''AACS''') along with redundant units of most instruments and 8 backup thrusters. The spacecraft also included 11 scientific instruments to study celestial objects as it traveled through space.<ref name="PDS-Host">{{cite web |url=http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/viewHostProfile.jsp?INSTRUMENT_HOST_ID=VG2 |title=VOYAGER 2:Host Information |year=1989 |publisher=NASA |accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref>

====Communications====
Built with the intent for eventual interstellar travel, ''Voyager 2'' included a large, {{convert|3.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} parabolic, [[high-gain antenna]] ('''''[[:File:Voyager Program - High-gain antenna diagram.png|see diagram]]''''') to transceive data via the [[Deep Space Network]] on [[the Earth]]. Communications are conducted over the [[S-band]] (about 13&nbsp;cm wavelength) and [[X-band]] (about 3.6&nbsp;cm wavelength) providing data rates as high as 115.2 kilobits per second at the distance of Jupiter, and then ever-decreasing as the distance increased, because of the [[inverse-square law]]. When the spacecraft is unable to communicate with Earth, the Digital Tape Recorder ('''DTR''') is able to record up to 62,500-[[kilobytes]] of data to later transmit when communication is reestablished.

====Power====
The spacecraft was built with 3 [[Radioisotope thermoelectric generator|Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators]] ('''MHW RTG'''). Each RTG includes 24 pressed plutonium oxide spheres and provides enough heat to generate approximately 157 watts of power at launch. Collectively, the RTGs supply the spacecraft with 470 watts at launch and will allow operations to continue until at least 2020.<ref name="PDS-Host" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Voyager 2 Craft Details|url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1977-076A|work=NASA-NSSDC-Spacecraft-Details|publisher=NASA|accessdate=March 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="NuclearNews">{{cite journal |last1=Furlong |first1=Richard R. |last2=Wahlquist |first2=Earl J. |year=1999 |title=U.S. space missions using radioisotope power systems |journal=Nuclear News |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=26–34 |url=http://www2.ans.org/pubs/magazines/nn/pdfs/1999-4-2.pdf |accessdate=January 2, 2011 }}</ref>

<center><gallery widths="170px" heights="180px">
File:Voyager Program - RTG diagram 1.png|RTG diagram 1
File:Voyager Program - RTG diagram 2.png|RTG diagram 1
File:Voyager Program - RTG upclose.png|RTG unit
</gallery></center>

====Scientific instruments====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" scope="col" | Expand
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:135px;"| Instrument Name
! scope="col" style="width:50px;"| Abr.
<!--! scope="col" width="50" | Image-->
! Description
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Imaging Science System <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''ISS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Utilizes a two-camera system (narrow-angle/wide-angle) to provide imagery of Jupiter, Saturn and other objects along the trajectory. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-01 '''More''']
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="2" | Filters
|-
|
{| style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" scope="col" style="width:320px;"| Narrow Angle Camera Filters<ref name='NACam'>{{cite web | url = http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iss/inst_cat_na2.html#filters | title = Voyager 1 Narrow Angle Camera Description | accessdate =January 17, 2011 | first = NASA/JPL | date = August 26, 2003 | publisher=NASA / PDS}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#e5e5e5; width:60px;"| Name
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Wavelength
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Spectrum
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Sensitivity
|-
| Clear
| 280&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Clear.png|50px | center]]
| style="background:#fff;"|
|-
| [[Ultraviolet|UV]]
| 280&nbsp;nm – 370&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - UV.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #1d0036" |
|-
| Violet
| 350&nbsp;nm – 450&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Violet.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #8300b5" |
|-
| Blue
| 430&nbsp;nm – 530&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Blue.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #00d5ff" |
|-
| '
| '
| [[File:Clear.png|50px | center]]
| '
|-
| Green
| 530&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Green.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ffef00" |
|-
| '
| '
| [[File:Clear.png|50px | center]]
| '
|-
| Orange
| 590&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Orange.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ff8900" |
|-
| '
| '
| [[File:Clear.png|50px | center]]
| '
|}
|
{| style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" scope="col" style="width:320px;"| Wide Angle Camera Filters<ref name='WACam'>{{cite web | url = http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iss/inst_cat_wa2.html#filters | title = Voyager 1 Wide Angle Camera Description | accessdate =January 17, 2011 | first = NASA/JPL | date = August 26, 2003 | publisher=NASA / PDS}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#e5e5e5; width:60px;"| Name
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Wavelength
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Spectrum
! style="background: #e5e5e5" | Sensitivity
|-
| Clear
| 280&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Clear.png|50px | center]]
| style="background:#fff;"|
|-
| '
| '
| [[File:Clear.png|50px | center]]
| '
|-
| Violet
| 350&nbsp;nm – 450&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Violet.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #8300b5" |
|-
| Blue
| 430&nbsp;nm – 530&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Blue.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #00d5ff" |
|-
| [[Methane|CH<sub>4</sub>]]-U
| 536&nbsp;nm – 546&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - CH4U.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #81ff00" |
|-
| Green
| 530&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Green.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ffef00" |
|-
| [[Sodium|Na]]-D
| 588&nbsp;nm – 590&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - NaD.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ffe200" |
|-
| Orange
| 590&nbsp;nm – 640&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - Orange.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ff8900" |
|-
| [[Methane|CH<sub>4</sub>]]-JST
| 614&nbsp;nm – 624&nbsp;nm
| [[File:Voyager - Filters - CH4JST.png|50px | center]]
| style="background: #ff7b00" |
|}
|}
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Bradford Smith / University of Arizona ([http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iss/index.html PDS/PRN website])}}
*{{small|'''Data:''' [http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/Admin/resources/cd_voyager.html PDS/PDI data catalog], [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iss/raw_images.html PDS/PRN data catalog]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Radio Science System <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''RSS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Utilized the telecommunications system of the Voyager spacecraft to determine the physical properties of planets and satellites (ionospheres, atmospheres, masses, gravity fields, densities) and the amount and size distribution of material in Saturn's rings and the ring dimensions. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-02 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' G. Tyler / Stanford University [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iss/instrument.html PDS/PRN overview]}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/?filter=VG_234,VG_235,VG_236&title=Voyager_2_Radio_Science_Investigation PDS/PPI data catalog], [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/rss/index.html PDS/PRN data catalog] '''('''[http://pds-rings.seti.org/vol/VG_2803_peer_review/ VG_2803]''')''', [ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/voyager/voyager2/radio_science_rss/ NSSDC Saturn data archive]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Infrared [[Interferometer]] [[Spectrometer]] <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''IRIS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Investigates both global and local energy balance and atmospheric composition. Vertical temperature profiles are also obtained from the planets and satellites as well as the composition, thermal properties, and size of particles in [[Saturn's rings]]. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-03 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Rudolf Hanel / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ([http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iris/instrument.html PDS/PRN website])}}
*{{small|'''Data:''' [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iris/original_volume.html PDS/PRN data catalog], [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/iris/expanded_volumes.html PDS/PRN expanded data catalog] '''('''[http://pds-rings.seti.org/vol/VGIRIS_0001_peer_review/ VGIRIS_0001], [http://pds-rings.seti.org/vol/VGIRIS_0002_peer_review/ VGIRIS_002]''')'''}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Ultraviolet [[Spectrometer]] <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''UVS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Designed to measure atmospheric properties, and to measure radiation. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-04 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' A. Broadfoot / University of Southern California ([http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/uvs/instrument.html PDS/PRN website])}}
*{{small|'''Data:''' [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/uvs/data.html PDS/PRN data catalog]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Triaxial Fluxgate [[Magnetometer]] <br>{{color|#4CBB17|{{small|('''active''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''MAG''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Designed to investigate the magnetic fields of Jupiter and Saturn, the solar-wind interaction with the magnetospheres of these planets, and the interplanetary magnetic field out to the solar wind boundary with the interstellar magnetic field and beyond, if crossed. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-05 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Norman Ness / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ([http://vgrmag.gsfc.nasa.gov/ website])}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/?filter=VG_100,VG_1502,VG_1601&title=Voyager_2_Magnetometer_Investigation PDS/PPI data catalog], [ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/voyager/voyager2/magnetic_fields/ NSSDC data archive]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |[[Plasma (physics)|Plasma]] [[Spectrometer]] <br>{{color|#4CBB17|{{small|('''active''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''PLS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Investigates the macroscopic properties of the plasma ions and measures electrons in the energy range from 5 eV to 1 keV. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-06 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' John Richardson / MIT ([http://web.mit.edu/space/www/voyager/voyager.html website])}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/?filter=VG_100,VG_1502,VG_1601,VG_PLS&title=Voyager_2_Plasma_Science_Investigation PDS/PPI data catalog], [ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/voyager/voyager2/plasma/ NSSDC data archive]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Low Energy [[Charged Particle]] Instrument <br>{{color|#4CBB17|{{small|('''active''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''LECP''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Measures the differential in energy fluxes and angular distributions of ions, electrons and the differential in energy ion composition. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-07 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Stamatios Krimigis / JHU/APL / University of Maryland ([http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/VOYAGER/ JHU/APL website] / [http://space.umd.edu/Voyager/ UMD website] / [http://voyager.ftecs.com/default.htm KU website])}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://voyager-mac.umd.edu/ UMD data plotting], [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/?filter=VG_100,VG_1502,VG_1601,VGLE_&title=Voyager_2_Low-Energy_Charged_Particle_Investigation PDS/PPI data catalog], [ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/voyager/voyager2/particle/lecp/ NSSDC data archive]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |[[Cosmic Ray]] System <br>{{color|#4CBB17|{{small|('''active''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''CRS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Determines the origin and acceleration process, life history, and dynamic contribution of interstellar cosmic rays, the nucleosynthesis of elements in cosmic-ray sources, the behavior of cosmic rays in the interplanetary medium, and the trapped planetary energetic-particle environment. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-08 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Edward Stone / CalTech / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ([http://voyager.gsfc.nasa.gov/ website])}}
*{{small|'''Data:''' [ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/voyager/voyager2/particle/crs/ NSSDC data archive]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |Planetary [[Radio Astronomy]] Investigation <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''PRA''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Utilizes a sweep-frequency radio receiver to study the radio-emission signals from Jupiter and Saturn. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-10 '''More'''] ''[[Voyager: Sounds Of The Cosmos]]'', the Album made from Voyager's PRA Instrument Recordings
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' James Warwick / University of Colorado}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/?filter=VG_100,VG_1502,VG_1601,VGPR_1201&title=Voyager_2_Planetary_Radio_Astronomy_Investigation PDS/PPI data catalog]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |[[Polarimeter|Photopolarimeter]] System <br>{{color|#E62020|{{small|('''disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''PPS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Utilized a telescope with a [[polarizer]] to gather information on surface texture and composition of Jupiter and Saturn and information on atmospheric scattering properties and density for both planets. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-11 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Arthur Lane / JPL ([http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/pps/instrument.html PDS/PRN website])}}
*{{small|'''Data:''' [http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/pps/data.html PDS/PRN data catalog]}}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |[[Plasma (physics)|Plasma]] Wave System <br>{{color|#CFB53B|{{small|('''partially disabled''')}}}}
| style="text-align:center" |('''PWS''')
<!--| --> <!--If single image in use, change to cHeight= 160-->
<!--Instrument image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
<!--Diagram image-->
<!--{{Css Image Crop |Image= |bSize= 160px |cWidth= 50 |cHeight= 80 |oTop= 0 |oLeft= 0 |Location= Center}}-->
| Provides continuous, sheath-independent measurements of the electron-density profiles at Jupiter and Saturn as well as basic information on local wave-particle interaction, useful in studying the magnetospheres. [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=1977-076A-13 '''More''']
*{{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Donald Gurnett / University of Iowa ([http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/plasma-wave/voyager/ website])}}
*{{small|1='''Data:''' [http://ppi.pds.nasa.gov/search/search.jsp?k=voyager+pws PDS/PPI data catalog]}}
|}
|}

''For more details on the Voyager space probes' identical instrument packages, see the separate article on the overall [[Voyager Program#Spacecraft design|Voyager Program]].''

{{Gallery| align = center
| title = Images of the spacecraft |width=175 |lines=2
|File:Voyager Program - spacecraft diagram.png|alt1=Voyager spacecraft diagram |{{small|''[[Voyager Program|Voyager]]'' spacecraft diagram.}}
|File:Voyager before solar thermal test.gif|alt2=Voyager in transport to a solar thermal test chamber |{{small| ''Voyager'' in transport to a solar thermal test chamber.}}
|File:Record is attached to Voyager 1.jpg|alt3=Gold-Plated Record is attached to Voyager |{{small|[[Voyager Golden Record|Gold-Plated Record]] is attached to ''Voyager''. }}
|File:Voyager 2 is encapsulated.jpg|alt4=Voyager 2 awaiting payload entry into a Titan/Centaur-6 rocket |{{small|''Voyager 2'' awaiting payload entry into a [[Titan (rocket)|Titan]]/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur-6]] rocket.}}
| footer = {{center|{{commons-inline|bullet=none|Category:Voyager spacecraft|the Voyager spacecraft}}}}
}}

==Mission profile==
{| style="float:left; clear: both;"
|-
! colspan="2" | Timeline of travel
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Date
! scope="col" style="width:350px;"| Event
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1977-08-20
| Spacecraft launched at 14:29:00 (2:29:00 pm) UTC.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1977-12-10
| Entered [[asteroid belt]].
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1977-12-19
| [[Voyager 1]] overtakes ''Voyager 2''. ('''''[[:File:Voyager 1 - Voyager 2 - Voyager 1 overtakes Voyager 2.png|see diagram]]''''')
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1978-06-
| Primary radio receiver fails. Remainder of mission flown using backup.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1978-10-21
| Exited asteroid belt
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1979-04-25
| Start Jupiter observation phase
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Time
! scope="col" style="width:230px;"| Event
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1979-07-08'''
| '''Encounter with [[Jovian system]].'''
|-
| style="text-align:center" |12:21:00 (12:21:00 am)
| [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] flyby at 214,930&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1979-07-09'''
|
|-
| style="text-align:center" |07:14:00 (7:14:00 am)
| [[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]] flyby at 62,130&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:53:00 (5:53:00 pm)
| [[Europa (moon)|Europa]] flyby at 205,720&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |20:01:00 (8:01:00 pm)
| [[Amalthea (moon)|Amalthea]] flyby at 558,370&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |22:29:00 (10:29:00 pm)
| [[Jupiter]] closest approach at 721,670&nbsp;km from the center of mass.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |23:17:00 (11:17:00 pm)
| [[Io (moon)|Io]] flyby at 1,129,900&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1979-08-05'''
| '''Phase Stop'''
|}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1981-06-05
| Start Saturn observation phase.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Time
! scope="col" style="width:230px;"| Event
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1981-08-22'''
| '''Encounter with [[Saturnian system]].'''
|-
| style="text-align:center" |01:26:57
| [[Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus]] flyby at 908,680&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1981-08-25'''
|
|-
| style="text-align:center" |01:25:26
| [[Hyperion (moon)|Hyperion]] flyby at 431,370&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |09:37:46
| [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] flyby at 666,190&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |22:57:33 (10:57:33 pm)
| [[Helene (moon)|Helene]] flyby at 314,090&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1981-08-26'''
|
|-
| style="text-align:center" |01:04:32
| [[Dione (moon)|Dione]] flyby at 502,310&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |02:22:17
| [[Calypso (moon)|Calypso]] flyby at 151,590&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |02:24:26
| [[Mimas (moon)|Mimas]] flyby at 309,930&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:19:18
| [[Pandora (moon)|Pandora]] flyby at 107,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:24:05
| [[Saturn]] closest approach at 161,000&nbsp;km from the center of mass.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:33:02
| [[Atlas (moon)|Atlas]] 287,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:45:16
| [[Enceladus (moon)|Enceladus]] flyby at 87,010&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:50:04
| [[Janus (moon)|Janus]] at 223,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |04:05:56
| [[Epimetheus (moon)|Epimetheus]] at 147,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |06:02:47
| [[Telesto (moon)|Telesto]] at 270,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |06:12:30
| [[Tethys (moon)|Tethys]] flyby at 93,010&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |06:28:48
| [[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]] flyby at 645,260&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1981-09-04'''
|
|-
| style="text-align:center" |01:22:34
| [[Phoebe (moon)|Phoebe]] flyby at 2,075,640&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1981-09-25'''
| '''Phase Stop'''
|}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1985-11-04
| Start Uranus observation phase.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Time
! scope="col" style="width:230px;"| Event
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1986-01-24'''
| '''Encounter with [[Uranian system]].'''
|-
| style="text-align:center" |16:50:00 (4:50:00 pm)
| [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]] flyby at 29,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:25:00 (5:25:00 pm)
| [[Ariel (moon)|Ariel]] flyby at 127,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:25:00 (5:25:00 pm)
| [[Umbriel (moon)|Umbriel]] flyby at 325,000&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:25:00 (5:25:00 pm)
| [[Titania (moon)|Titania]] flyby at 365,200&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:25:00 (5:25:00 pm)
| [[Oberon (moon)|Oberon]] flyby at 470,600&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |17:59:47 (5:59:47 pm)
| [[Uranus]] closest approach at 107,000&nbsp;km from the center of mass.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1986-02-25'''
| '''Phase Stop'''
|}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1989-06-05
| Start Neptune observation phase.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Time
! scope="col" style="width:230px;"| Event
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1989-08-25'''
| '''Encounter with [[Neptunian system]].'''
|-
| style="text-align:center" |03:56:36
| [[Neptune]] closest approach at 29,240&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |04:51:00
| [[Larissa (moon)|Larissa]] flyby at 60,180&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |05:29:00
| [[Proteus (moon)|Proteus]] flyby at 97,860&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |09:23:00
| [[Triton (moon)|Triton]] flyby at 39,800&nbsp;km.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |'''1989-10-02'''
| '''Phase Stop'''
|}
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1989-10-02
| Begin Voyager Interstellar Mission.
|-
! colspan="2" scope="col" style="width:460px;"| Interstellar phase<ref>[http://www.dmuller.net/spaceflight/mission.php?mission=voyager2&appear=black&showimg=yes "Voyager 2 Full Mission Timeline"] Muller, Daniel, 2010</ref><ref>[http://pds-rings.seti.org/voyager/mission/ "Voyager Mission Description"] NASA, February 19, 1997</ref><ref>[http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/viewMissionProfile.jsp?MISSION_NAME=VOYAGER "JPL Mission Information"] NASA, JPL, PDS.</ref>
|-
| scope="col" style="width:100px; text-align:center;"| 1990-02-14
| scope="col" style="width:350px;"| Final images of the [[Voyager Program]] acquired by [[Voyager 1]] to create the [[Family Portrait (Voyager)|Solar System "Family Portrait"]].
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1997-08-20
| 20 years of continuous flight and operation at 14:29:00 UTC.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |1998-11-13
| Terminate scan platform and UV observations.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |2007-08-20
| 30 years of continuous flight and operation at 14:29:00 UTC.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |2007-09-06
| Terminate data tape recorder operations.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |2008-02-22
| Terminate planetary radio astronomy experiment operations.
|-
| style="text-align:center" |2011-11-07
|Switch to backup thrusters to conserve power<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-341&rn=news.xml&rst=3189 |title=Voyager 2 to Switch to Backup Thruster Set |date=November 5, 2011 |first=Rosemary |last=Sullivant |id=2011-341 |publisher=JPL}}</ref>
|}
|}{{clear}}

==Launch and trajectory==
The ''Voyager 2'' probe was launched on August 20, 1977, by NASA from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41|Space Launch Complex 41]] at [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]], aboard a [[Titan IIIE]]/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]] [[carrier rocket|launch vehicle]]. Two weeks later, the twin ''Voyager 1'' probe would be launched on September 5, 1977. However, ''Voyager 1'' would reach both Jupiter and Saturn sooner, as ''Voyager 2'' had been launched into a longer, more circular trajectory.

<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Titan 3E Centaur launches Voyager 2.jpg | ''Voyager 2'' launch on August 20, 1977 with a [[Titan IIIE]]/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]].
File:Voyager 2 path.svg | Trajectory of ''Voyager 2'' primary mission.
File:Voyager 2 velocity vs distance from sun.svg | Plot of ''Voyager 2'''s heliocentric velocity against its distance from the Sun, illustrating the use of gravity assists to accelerate the spacecraft by Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. To observe [[Triton (moon)|Triton]], ''Voyager 2'' passed over Neptune's north pole, resulting in an acceleration out of the plane of the ecliptic, and, as a result, a reduced velocity relative to the Sun.<ref>[http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf4-1.php Basics of space flight: Interplanetary Trajectories]</ref>
</gallery>
<!--too editorial, complete rewrite necessary

===Complications===
Some weeks later, the ground controllers for the Voyager program became engrossed in an early post-launch problem with ''Voyager 1'', and they forgot to send an important updating code to ''Voyager 2''. (These space probes had been programmed to expect a radio message of some kind from the [[Deep Space Network]] at least once per week to verify that their radio systems were still working.) This failure to receive a radio message caused ''Voyager 2'' to shut down its primary radio receiver, and to switch over to its identical back-up receiver, which had a subtle defect in it. In the process of switching back and forth between the receivers a few times, a fuse in the DC power supply of the primary receiver blew, permanently disabling it. Thus the back-up receiver had to be relied upon for the entire mission.

Fortunately, after waiting one more week, ''Voyager 2'' automatically switched to its back-up radio receiver once more, and the Deep Space Network radio engineers were able to re-establish contact through the spacecraft's back-up radio receiver. This radio receiver has remained somewhat "finicky" ever since then, but it has been "nursemaided" along technically, and it has never failed. Also, periodically, files of procedures for ''Voyager 2'' to follow in the future have been uploaded via the Deep Space Network to give ''Voyager 2'' a sketchy plan of what to do for many months, in case the radio receiver ever did permanently fail, cutting off all messages from the Earth to ''Voyager 2''.

However, the back-up radio receiver for ''Voyager 2'' has not failed, and it remains in operation as of November 28, 2009. As for the two radio receivers for ''Voyager 1'', there never has been a problem with either one of those. Furthermore, there never has been any problem with the X-band [[traveling wave tube]] transmitters for either ''Voyager 1'' or ''Voyager 2''.

''Voyager 2's'' gyroscopes and its computer were operational during its Titan/Centaur launch phase, monitoring the sequence of events, in order for those systems to take over the space probe's [[Attitude dynamics and control|attitude control]] and other functions upon separation from the [[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]] upper stage. But at that point, the unexpected happened: ''Voyager 2's'' computer experienced robotic "vertigo". In its confusion, it helplessly switched to backup sensors, presuming its "senses" to be defective.

''Voyager 2's'' disoriented flight-control computer remained disconnected from ''Voyager's'' powerful thrusters at this point, so it did not cause damage to the launch during the launching itself. The Centaur's attitude-control system stayed in charge, suffering no "vertigo" and, as planned, it electronically corrected the disequilibrium of the ''Voyager's'' computer just before separation.

From the spacecraft's control center, engineers and technicians helplessly watched the antics of ''Voyager 2's'' disoriented computer. One hour and 11 minutes after lift-off, ''Voyager 2's'' own dedicated solid rocket fired for 45 seconds, to supply the final increment of [[momentum]] that it needed to get to Jupiter.

One-and-one-half minutes after ''Voyager 2's'' key rocket burn ended, the three-meter-long articulating arm holding the television camera and other remote-sensing instruments unlatched and deployed as planned. After this, ''Voyager 2's'' computer once again sensed an emergency for some reason. This time it switched to a different set of thrusters and activated valves to control the tiny bursts of gas that stabilized its attitude in space. ''Voyager 2's'' robotic "alter ego" (its executive program) then challenged portions of its own computer in a frantic attempt to correct the orientation failure that it sensed.

At this point, ''Voyager 2'' followed the normal procedures that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers had installed in the computer to cope with the most dreaded emergency for a robot spacecraft in deep space—attitude-control disorientation. ''Voyager 2'' shut down most communications with the Earth in order to begin its reorientation.

Seventy-nine minutes passed while ''Voyager 2'' struggled alone and unaided to find the Sun with a light sensor and to establish a known orientation point. Finally, ''Voyager 2'' radioed back to the Earth that it was operating normally. It was unknown at this point if the redundant sensors were malfunctioning, or if its on-board digital computer was defective.

The fault protection in ''Voyager 2's'' computer was operating at this point on the now-painful assumption that it would be triggered only by a hardware failure hundreds of millions of miles from Earth. In that event, ''Voyager 2'' would be unable to establish even emergency communications with its human flight controllers, who could not help it much at that distance, in any case.

''Voyager 2'' had been programmed to virtually shut off communications with the Earth during such deep-space emergencies and to attempt to fix itself. Somehow, these procedures had been triggered right after the launching, when they should not have been. There had been no hardware problems in the computer—just a slight but serious mis-setting of attitude-control parameters in the on-board computer.
-->

===Encounter with Jupiter===
{{main|Exploration of Jupiter}}
The closest approach to Jupiter occurred on July 9, 1979. It came within {{convert|570,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of the planet's cloud tops.<ref>[http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/history/70s/Voyager2_1979.htm "Voyager 2, July 9, 1979"]</ref> It discovered a few [[Rings of Jupiter|rings around Jupiter]], as well as volcanic activity on the moon [[Io (moon)|Io]].

The [[Great Red Spot]] was revealed as a complex storm moving in a counterclockwise direction. An array of other smaller storms and eddies were found throughout the banded clouds.

Discovery of active volcanism on Io was easily the greatest unexpected discovery at Jupiter. It was the first time active volcanoes had been seen on another body in the Solar System. Together, the Voyagers observed the eruption of nine volcanoes on Io, and there is evidence that other eruptions occurred between the two Voyager fly-bys.

The moon [[Europa (moon)|Europa]] displayed a large number of intersecting linear features in the low-resolution photos from ''Voyager 1''. At first, scientists believed the features might be deep cracks, caused by crustal rifting or tectonic processes. The closer high-resolution photos from ''Voyager 2'', however, left scientists puzzled: The features were so lacking in topographic relief that as one scientist described them, they "might have been painted on with a felt marker." Europa is internally active due to tidal heating at a level about one-tenth that of Io. Europa is thought to have a thin crust (less than {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} thick) of water ice, possibly floating on a 50-kilometer-deep (30 mile) ocean.

Two new, small satellites, [[Adrastea (moon)|Adrastea]] and [[Metis (moon)|Metis]], were found orbiting just outside the ring. A third new satellite, [[Thebe (moon)|Thebe]], was discovered between the orbits of [[Amalthea (moon)|Amalthea]] and Io.

{{Gallery| align = center
| style="width:175px;"|lines=2
|File:Jupiter - Region from the Great Red Spot to the South Pole.jpg|alt1=The Great Red Spot photographed during the ''Voyager 2'' flyby of Jupiter |{{small|The [[Great Red Spot]] photographed during the ''Voyager 2'' flyby of [[Jupiter]].}}
|File:Voyager 2 Jupiter Io.jpg|alt2=A transit of Io across Jupiter, July 9, 1979 |{{small|A transit of [[Io (moon)|Io]] across [[Jupiter]], July&nbsp;9,&nbsp;1979.}}
|File:Io voyager2.gif|alt3=Eruption of a volcano on Io, photographed by Voyager 2 |{{small|Eruption of a [[volcano]] on [[Io (moon)|Io]], photographed by Voyager 2.}}
|File:Crescent Europa - GPN-2000-000469.jpg|alt4=A color mosaic of Europa |{{small|A color mosaic of [[Europa (moon)|Europa]].}}
}}
{{Gallery| align = center|width=175 |lines=2
|File:PIA00081 Ganymede Voyager 2 mosaic.jpg|alt1=A color mosaic of Ganymede |{{small|A color mosaic of [[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]].}}
|File:Callisto - PIA00457.jpg|alt2=Callisto photographed at a distance of 1 million kilometers |{{small|[[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] photographed at a distance of 1&nbsp;million&nbsp;kilometers.}}
|File:Jupiter Ring.png|alt3=One ring of Jupiter photographed during the ''Voyager 2'' flyby of Jupiter |{{small|One faint [[Rings of Jupiter|ring of Jupiter]] photographed during the flyby.}}
|File:Jupiter - PIA02257.gif|alt4=An eruptive event that occurred as Voyager 2 approached Jupiter |{{small|Atmospheric eruptive event on [[Jupiter]].}}
|footer = {{center|{{commons-inline|bullet=none|Category:Photos of Jupiter system by Voyager 2|the Voyager 2 Jupiter encounter}}}}
}}

=== Encounter with Saturn ===
{{main|Exploration of Saturn}}
The closest approach to Saturn occurred on August 26, 1981.<ref>[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/EventQuery.jsp Nasa]</ref>

While passing behind Saturn (as viewed from Earth), ''Voyager 2'' probed Saturn's upper atmosphere with its radio link to gather information on atmospheric temperature and density profiles. ''Voyager 2'' found that at the uppermost pressure levels (seven [[kilopascal]]s of pressure), Saturn's temperature was 70 [[kelvin]]s (−203&nbsp;°C), while at the deepest levels measured (120 kilopascals) the temperature increased to 143&nbsp;K (−130&nbsp;°C). The north pole was found to be 10 kelvins cooler, although this may be seasonal (''see also [[Saturn#Best viewing|Saturn Oppositions]]'').

After the fly-by of Saturn, the camera platform of ''Voyager 2'' locked up briefly, putting plans to officially extend the mission to Uranus and Neptune in jeopardy. Fortunately, the mission's engineers were able to fix the problem (caused by an overuse that temporarily depleted its lubricant), and the ''Voyager 2'' probe was given the go-ahead to explore the Uranian system.

{{Gallery| align = center
| style="width:175px;"|lines=2
|File:Saturn (planet) large.jpg|alt1=''Voyager 2'' Saturn approach view |{{small|''Voyager 2'' [[Saturn]] approach view.}}
|File:Voyager 2 - Saturn - 3115 7854 2.png|alt2=North, polar region of Saturn imaged in orange and UV filters |{{small|North, polar region of [[Saturn]] imaged in orange and UV filters.}}
|File:Voyager 2 - Tethys - 3149 7888 1.jpg|alt3=Color image of Enceladus showing terrain of widely varying ages |{{small|Color image of [[Enceladus (moon)|Enceladus]] showing terrain of widely varying ages.}}
|File:Voyager 2 - Tethys - 3119 7858 2.png|alt4=Cratered surface of Tethys at 594,000 km |{{small|Cratered surface of [[Tethys (moon)|Tethys]] at 594,000&nbsp;km.}}
}}
{{Gallery| align = center|width=175 |lines=2
|File:Voyager 2 - Titan - 3128 7866 2.png|alt1=Atmosphere of Titan imaged from 2.3&nbsp;million km |{{small|Atmosphere of [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] imaged from 2.3&nbsp;million&nbsp;km.}}
|File:Voyager 2 - Titan - 3092 7807 2.png|alt2=Titan occultation of the Sun from 0.9&nbsp;million km |{{small|[[Titan (moon)|Titan]] [[occultation]] of the [[Sun]] from 0.9&nbsp;million&nbsp;km.}}
|File:Iapetus by Voyager 2.jpg|alt3=Two-toned Iapetus from ''Voyager 2'', August 22, 1981 |{{small|Two-toned [[Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus]], August&nbsp;22,&nbsp;1981.}}
|File:Voyager 2 - Saturn Rings - 3085 7800 2.png|alt4="Spoke" features observed in the rings of Saturn |{{small|"Spoke" features observed in the [[rings of Saturn]].}}
| footer = {{center|{{commons-inline|bullet=none|Category:Photos of Saturn system by Voyager 2|the Voyager 2 Saturn encounter}}}}
}}

===Encounter with Uranus===
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2011}}
{{main|Exploration of Uranus}}
The closest approach to Uranus occurred on January 24, 1986, when ''Voyager 2'' came within {{convert|81,500|km|mi|sp=us}} of the planet's cloud tops. ''Voyager 2'' also discovered the moons [[Cordelia (moon)|Cordelia]], [[Ophelia (moon)|Ophelia]], [[Bianca (moon)|Bianca]], [[Cressida (moon)|Cressida]], [[Desdemona (moon)|Desdemona]], [[Juliet (moon)|Juliet]], [[Portia (moon)|Portia]], [[Rosalind (moon)|Rosalind]], [[Belinda (moon)|Belinda]], [[Perdita (moon)|Perdita]] and [[Puck (moon)|Puck]]; studied the planet's unique atmosphere, caused by its [[axial tilt]] of 97.8°; and examined the [[Rings of Uranus|Uranian ring system]].

[[Uranus]] is the third largest (Neptune has a larger mass, but a smaller volume) planet in the Solar System. It orbits the Sun at a distance of about 2.8&nbsp;billion kilometers (1.7&nbsp;billion miles), and it completes one orbit every 84 Earth years. The length of a day on Uranus as measured by ''Voyager 2'' is 17 hours, 14 minutes. Uranus is unique among the planets in that its axial tilt is about 90°, meaning that its axis is roughly parallel with, not perpendicular to, the [[plane of the ecliptic]]. This extremely large tilt of its axis is thought to be the result of a collision between the accumulating planet Uranus with another planet-sized body early in the history of the Solar System. Given the unusual orientation of its axis, with the polar regions of Uranus exposed for periods of many years to either continuous sunlight or darkness, planetary scientists were not at all sure what to expect when observing Uranus.

''Voyager 2'' found that one of the most striking effects of the sideways orientation of Uranus is the effect on the tail of the planetary magnetic field. This is itself tilted about 60° from the Uranian axis of rotation. The planet's magneto tail was shown to be twisted by the rotation of Uranus into a long corkscrew shape following the planet. The presence of a significant magnetic field for Uranus was not at all known until ''Voyager's 2'' arrival.

The radiation belts of Uranus were found to be of an intensity similar to those of Saturn. The intensity of radiation within the Uranian belts is such that irradiation would "quickly" darken — within 100,000 years — any methane that is trapped in the icy surfaces of the inner moons and ring particles. This kind of darkening might have contributed to the darkened surfaces of the moons and the ring particles, which are almost uniformly dark gray in color.

A high layer of haze was detected around the sunlit pole of Uranus. This area was also found to radiate large amounts of ultraviolet light, a phenomenon that is called "dayglow." The average atmospheric temperature is about 60&nbsp;K (−350°[[Fahrenheit|F]]/−213°[[Celsius|C]]). Surprisingly, the illuminated and dark poles, and most of the planet, exhibit nearly the same temperatures at the cloud tops.

The Uranian moon [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]], the innermost of the five large moons, was discovered to be one of the strangest bodies yet seen in the Solar System. Detailed images from ''Voyager 2's'' flyby of Miranda showed huge canyons made from [[geological fault]]s as deep as {{convert|20|km|mi|sp=us}}, terraced layers, and a mixture of old and young surfaces. One [[hypothesis]] suggests that Miranda might consist of a reaggregation of material following an earlier event when Miranda was shattered into pieces by a violent impact.

All nine of the previously known Uranian rings were studied by the instruments of ''Voyager 2''. These measurements showed that the Uranian rings are distinctly different from those at Jupiter and Saturn. The Uranian ring system might be relatively young, and it did not form at the same time that Uranus did. The particles that make up the rings might be the remnants of a moon that was broken up by either a high-velocity impact or [[Roche limit|torn up by tidal effects]].

{{Gallery| align = center
| style="width:175px;"|lines=1
|File:Uranus2.jpg|alt1=Uranus as viewed by Voyager 2 |{{small|Uranus as viewed by Voyager 2}}
|File:Uranus Final Image.jpg|alt2=Departing image of crescent Uranus |{{small|Departing image of crescent [[Uranus]].}}
|File:Miranda2.JPG|alt3=Fractured surface of Miranda |{{small|Fractured surface of [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]].}}
|File:Ariel Closest Approach.jpg|alt4=Ariel as imaged from 130,000 km |{{small|[[Ariel (moon)|Ariel]] as imaged from 130,000&nbsp;km.}}
}}
{{Gallery| align = center|width=175 |lines=2
|File:Titania.jpg|alt1=Color composite of Titania from 500,000 km |{{small|Color composite of [[Titania (moon)|Titania]] from 500,000&nbsp;km.}}
|File:Umbriel moon 1.gif|alt2=Umbriel imaged from 550,000 km |{{small|[[Umbriel (moon)]] imaged from 550,000&nbsp;km.}}
|File:Oberon color.jpg|alt3=Color composite of Oberon |{{small|Color composite of [[Oberon (moon)|Oberon]].}}
|File:Uranian rings PIA01977 modest.jpg|alt4=Voyager 2 photo of the Rings of Uranus |{{small|The [[Rings of Uranus]] imaged by ''Voyager&nbsp;2''.}}
| footer = {{center|{{commons-inline|bullet=none|Category:Photos of Uranus system by Voyager 2|the Voyager 2 Uranus encounter}}}}
}}

===Encounter with Neptune===
{{main|Exploration of Neptune}}
''Voyager 2's'' closest approach to Neptune occurred on August 25, 1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voyager – Fact Sheet |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/factsheet.html |quote=Following ''Voyager 2's'' closest approach to Neptune on August 25, 1989 |accessdate=August 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Nardo|2002|p=15|Ref=none}}</ref> Since this was the last planet of our Solar System that ''Voyager 2'' could visit, the Chief Project Scientist, his staff members, and the flight controllers decided to also perform a close fly-by of [[Triton (moon)|Triton]], the larger of Neptune's two originally known moons, so as to gather as much information on Neptune and Triton as possible, regardless of Voyager 2's departure angle from the planet. This was just like the case of ''Voyager 1's'' encounters with Saturn and its massive moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]].

Through repeated computerized test simulations of trajectories through the Neptunian system conducted in advance, flight controllers determined the best way to route ''Voyager 2'' through the Neptune-Triton system. Since the plane of the orbit of Triton is tilted significantly with respect to the plane of the ecliptic, through mid-course corrections, ''Voyager 2'' was directed into a path several thousand miles over the north pole of Neptune. At that time, Triton was behind and below (south of) Neptune (at an angle of about 25 degrees below the ecliptic), close to the [[apoapsis]] of its elliptical orbit. The gravitational pull of Neptune bent the trajectory of ''Voyager 2'' down in the direction of Triton. In less than 24 hours, ''Voyager 2'' traversed the distance between Neptune and Triton, and then observed Triton's northern hemisphere as it passed over its north pole.

The net and final effect on the trajectory of ''Voyager 2'' was to bend its trajectory south below the plane of the ecliptic by about 30 degrees. ''Voyager 2'' is on this path permanently, and hence, it is exploring space south of the plane of the ecliptic, measuring magnetic fields, charged particles, etc., there, and sending the measurements back to the Earth via [[telemetry]].

While in the neighborhood of Neptune, ''Voyager 2'' discovered the "[[Great Dark Spot]]", which has since disappeared, according to observations by the [[Hubble Space Telescope]]. Originally thought to be a large cloud itself, the "Great Dark Spot" was later hypothesized to be a hole in the visible cloud deck of Neptune.

Neptune's atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, and methane. The methane in Neptune's upper atmosphere absorbs the red light from the Sun, but it reflects the blue light from the Sun back into space. This is why Neptune looks blue.

With the decision of the [[International Astronomical Union]] to reclassify [[Pluto]] as a "[[plutoid]]" in 2008, the flyby of Neptune by ''Voyager 2'' in 1989 became the point when every known planet in the Solar System had been visited at least once by a space probe.

{{Gallery| align = center
| style="width:175px;"|lines=2
|File:Neptune.jpg|alt1=''Voyager 2'' image of Neptune |{{small|''Voyager 2'' image of [[Neptune]].}}
|File:Voyager 2 Neptune and Triton.jpg|alt2=Neptune and Triton three days after Voyager's flyby |{{small|[[Neptune]] and [[Triton (moon)|Triton]] three days after ''Voyager 2'' flyby.}}
|File:Despina.jpg|alt3=Despina as imaged from Voyager 2 |{{small|[[Despina (moon)|Despina]] as imaged from ''Voyager 2''.}}
|File:Larissa.jpg|alt4=Cratered surface of Larissa |{{small|Cratered surface of [[Larissa (moon)|Larissa]].}}
}}
{{Gallery| align = center|width=175 |lines=2
|File:Proteus (Voyager 2).jpg|alt1=Dark surface of Proteus |{{small|Dark surface of [[Proteus (moon)|Proteus]].}}
|File:Triton moon mosaic Voyager 2 (large).jpg|alt2=Color mosaic of ''Voyager 2'' Triton |{{small|Color mosaic of ''Voyager 2'' [[Triton (moon)|Triton]].}}
|File:Neptune clouds.jpg|alt3=Cirrus clouds imaged above gaseous Neptune |{{small|[[Cirrus clouds]] imaged above gaseous [[Neptune]].}}
|File:Rings of Neptune PIA01997.png|alt4=Rings of Neptune taken in occulation from 280,000km |{{small|[[Rings of Neptune]] taken in [[occultation]] from 280,000&nbsp;km.}}
| footer = {{center|{{commons-inline|bullet=none|Category:Photos of Neptune system by Voyager 2|the Voyager 2 Neptune encounter}}}}
}}

==Interstellar mission==
Once its planetary mission was over, ''Voyager 2'' was described as working on an interstellar mission, which NASA is using to find out what the [[Solar System]] is like beyond the [[heliosphere]]. ''Voyager 2'' is currently transmitting scientific data at about 160 [[bits per second]]. Information about continuing telemetry exchanges with ''Voyager 2'' is available from Voyager Weekly Reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/weekly-reports/index.htm |title=Voyager Weekly Reports |publisher=Voyager.jpl.nasa.gov |date=2013-09-06 |accessdate=2013-09-14}}</ref>

[[File:Voy2 8feb2012.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Simulated view of the position of ''Voyager 2'' as of February 8, 2012 showing spacecraft trajectory since launch]]
[[File:Outersolarsystem-probes-4407b.svg|thumb|right|300px|alt=yellow spot surrounded by three concentric light-blue ellipses labeled from inside to out: Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. A grey ellipse labeled Pluto overlaps Neptune's ellipse. Four colored lines trail outwards from the central spot: a short red line labelled ''Voyager 2'' traces to the right and up; a green and longer line labelled ''Pioneer 11'' traces to the right; a purple line labelled ''Voyager 1'' traces to the bottom right corner; and a dark blue line labelled ''Pioneer 10'' traces left|Map showing location and trajectories of the ''[[Pioneer 10]]'', ''[[Pioneer 11]]'', ''[[Voyager 1]]'', and ''Voyager 2'' spacecraft, as of April 4, 2007.]]

On '''November 30, 2006''', a telemetered command to ''Voyager 2'' was incorrectly decoded by its on-board computer—in a random error—as a command to turn on the electrical heaters of the spacecraft's magnetometer. These heaters remained turned on until December 4, 2006, and during that time, there was a resulting high temperature above {{convert|130|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, significantly higher than the magnetometers were designed to endure, and a sensor rotated away from the correct orientation. It has not been possible to fully diagnose and correct for the damage caused to ''Voyager 2's'' magnetometer, although efforts to do so are proceeding.<ref>[ftp://vgrmag.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/voyager/quicklook/v2-warning Notes on Voyager 2 Quick Look Data: Data after November 29, 2006]</ref>

On '''August 30, 2007''', ''Voyager 2'' passed the [[termination shock]] and then entered into the [[heliosheath]], approximately 1 billion miles (1.6 billion km) closer to the Sun than ''Voyager 1'' did.<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager-20071210.html Voyager 2 Proves Solar System Is Squashed NASA.gov #2007-12-10]</ref> This is due to the [[interstellar magnetic field]] of deep space. The southern hemisphere of the Solar System's heliosphere is being pushed in.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN1044867120071211 Voyager 2 finds solar system's shape is 'dented' # 2007-12-10, Week Ending December 14, 2007.] Retrieved December 12, 2007.</ref>

On '''April 22, 2010''', ''Voyager 2'' encountered scientific data format problems.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/05/06/nasa_working_on_voyager_2_data_problem/ |title=NASA working on Voyager 2 data problem |author=John Antczak |date=May 6, 2010 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On '''May 17, 2010''', JPL engineers revealed that a flipped bit in an on-board computer had caused the issue, and scheduled a bit reset for May 19.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-151 |title=Engineers Diagnosing Voyager 2 Data System |publisher=[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] |accessdate=May 17, 2010}}</ref>

On '''May 23, 2010''', ''Voyager 2'' resumed sending science data from deep space after engineers fixed the flipped bit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/NASA_Fixes_Bug_On_Voyager_2_999.html |title=NASA Fixes Bug On Voyager 2 |accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref> Currently research is being made into marking the area of memory with the flipped bit off limits or disallowing its use. The Low-Energy Charged Particle Instrument is currently operational, and data from this instrument concerning [[charged particles]] is being transmitted to Earth. This data permits measurements of the [[heliosheath]] and [[termination shock]]. There has also been a modification to the on-board flight software to delay turning off the AP Branch 2 backup heater for 1 year. It was scheduled to go off February 2, 2011 (DOY 033, 2011–033).

On '''July 25, 2012''', ''Voyager 2'' was traveling at 15.447&nbsp;km/s relative to the [[Sun]] at about {{Convert|99.13|AU|km}} from the Sun,<ref name="where">{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/where/index.html |title=Where are the Voyagers? |date=September 9, 2012 |publisher=[[NASA]] |accessdate=September 9, 2012}}</ref> at −55.29° [[declination]] and 19.888 h [[right ascension]], and also at an ecliptic latitude of −34.0 degrees, placing it in the constellation [[Telescopium]] as observed from Earth.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heavens-above.com/SolarEscape.aspx | title= Spacecraft escaping the Solar System | work=Heavens Above |author=Peat, Chris |accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> This location places it deep in the [[scattered disc]], and traveling outward at roughly 3.264 AU per year. It is more than twice as far from the Sun as [[Pluto]], and far beyond the [[periapsis|perihelion]] of [[90377 Sedna]], but not yet beyond the outer limits of the orbit of the [[Eris (dwarf planet)|dwarf planet Eris]].

On '''September 9, 2012''', ''Voyager 2'' was {{Convert|99.077|AU|km mi|abbr=on}} from the Earth and {{Convert|99.504|AU|km mi|abbr=on}} from the Sun; and traveling at {{Convert|15.436|km/s|mph|abbr=on}} (relative to the Sun) and traveling outward at about 3.256 AU per year.<ref name="Peat-20120909">{{cite web |last=Peat |first=Chris |title=Spacecraft escaping the Solar System |url=http://www.heavens-above.com/SolarEscape.aspx |date=September 9, 2012 |publisher=[[Heavens-Above]] |accessdate=September 9, 2012 }}</ref> Sunlight takes 13.73 hours to get to ''Voyager 2''. The brightness of the Sun from the spacecraft is magnitude -16.7.<ref name="Peat-20120909" /> ''Voyager 2'' is heading in the direction of the constellation [[Telescopium (constellation)|Telescopium]].<ref name="Peat-20120909" /> (To compare, [[Proxima Centauri]], the closest star to our Sun, is about 4.2 [[light-year]]s (or {{val|2.65|e=5|u=AU}}) distant. ''Voyager 2's'' current relative velocity to the Sun is {{convert|15.436|km/s|km/h mph|abbr=on}}. This calculates as 3.254 AU per year, about 10% slower than ''Voyager 1''. At this velocity, 81,438 years would pass before reaching the nearest star, [[Proxima Centauri]], were the spacecraft traveling in the direction of that star. ''Voyager 2'' will need about 19,390 years at its current velocity to travel a complete light year.)

On '''November 7, 2012''', ''Voyager 2'' reached 100 AU from the sun, making it the third human made object to reach 100 AU. ''Voyager 1'' was 122 AU from the Sun, and ''Pioneer 10'' is presumed to be at 107 AU. While Pioneer has ceased communications, both of the ''Voyager'' spacecraft are performing well and are still communicating.
[[File:Voyagers Position.jpg|thumb|300px|The current position of Voyagers as of early 2013]]

==Future of the probe==
Voyager 2 is expected to enter interstellar space within a few years of 2016, and its plasma spectrometer should provide the first direct measurements of the density and temperature of the interstellar plasma.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/353199/description/At_last_Voyager_1_slips_into_interstellar_space
| title=At last, Voyager 1 slips into interstellar space – Atom & Cosmos
| work=Science News
| date=2013-09-12
| accessdate=2013-09-17 }}
</ref>

Voyager 2 is not headed toward any particular star, although in roughly 40,000 years it should pass 1.7 light-years (9.7 trillion miles) from the star [[Ross 248]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 22, 2007 |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html |title=Voyager – Mission – Interstellar Mission |publisher=NASA | accessdate=August 14, 2013}}</ref> And if undisturbed for 296,000 years, ''Voyager 2'' should pass by the star [[Sirius]] at a distance of 1.32 [[parsec]]s (4.3 [[light-year|ly]], 25 trillion miles). ''Voyager 2'' is expected to keep transmitting weak radio messages until at least 2025, over 48 years after it was launched.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/spacecraftlife.html
| title = Voyager – Spacecraft – Spacecraft Lifetime
| accessdate = May 25, 2008
| date = March 15, 2008
| publisher = [[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
}}</ref>

<!--table cleanup necessary-->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || End of specific capabilities as a result of the available electrical power limitations
|-
| 1998 || Terminate scan platform and UV observations
|-
| 2007 || Termination of ''Digital Tape Recorder'' (DTR) operations (It was no longer needed due to a failure on the ''High Waveform Receiver'' on the ''Plasma Wave Subsystem'' (PWS) on June 30, 2002.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/science/index.html
|title = Voyager – Interstellar Science
|accessdate =December 2, 2009
|date = December 1, 2009
|publisher=[[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
}}</ref>)
|-
| 2008 || Power off ''Planetary Radio Astronomy Experiment'' (PRA)
|-
| 2015 approx || Termination of [[gyroscope|gyroscopic]] operations
|-
| 2020 approx || Initiate instrument power sharing
|-
| 2025 or slightly afterwards || Can no longer power any single instrument
|}

===Golden record===
[[File:Voyager Golden Record fx.png|thumb|150px|left|''Voyager'' Golden Record]]
{{main | Voyager Golden Record}}
Each ''Voyager'' space probe carries a gold-plated audio-visual disc in the event that either spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life-forms from other planetary systems.<ref name="Ferris-201205">{{cite web|last=Ferris |first=Timothy |title=Timothy Ferris on Voyagers' Never-Ending Journey|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Timothy-Ferris-on-Voyagers-Never-Ending-Journey.html|date=May 2012 |publisher=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]]|accessdate=15 June 2012 }}</ref> The discs carry photos of the Earth and its lifeforms, a range of scientific information, spoken greetings from the people (e.g. the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the United States, and the children of the Planet Earth) and a medley, "Sounds of Earth", that includes the sounds of whales, a baby crying, waves breaking on a shore, and a collection of music, including works by [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], [[Blind Willie Johnson]], [[Chuck Berry]]'s "[[Johnny B. Goode]]", [[Valya Balkanska]] and other Eastern and Western classics and ethnic performers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/goldenrec.html |title=Voyager Golden record |accessdate=18 August 2013 |publisher=JPL}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight|Solar System}}
* [[Family Portrait (Voyager)]]
* [[List of artificial objects escaping from the Solar System]]
* [[New Horizons]]
* [[Pioneer 10]]
* [[Pioneer 11]]
* [[Voyager 1]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web | title=Saturn Science Results | work=Voyager Science Results at Saturn | url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/science/saturn.html | accessdate=February 8, 2005}}
* {{cite web | title=Uranus Science Results | work=Voyager Science Results at Uranus | url=http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/science/uranus.html | accessdate=February 8, 2005}}
* Nardo, Don (2002). ''Neptune.'' Thomson Gale. [[Special:BookSources/0737710012|ISBN 0-7377-1001-2]]
* [http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso4--Voyager_new.pdf JPL Voyager Telecom Manual]

== External links ==
{{Commons and category}}
* [http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/ NASA ''Voyager'' website]
* [http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/spacecraftlife.html ''Voyager'' Spacecraft Lifetime]
* [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Voyager_2 Voyager 2 Mission Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ NASA's Solar System Exploration]
* [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1977-076A Voyager 2 (NSSDC Master Catalog)]
* [http://www.heavens-above.com/SolarEscape.aspx Spacecraft Escaping the Solar System] – current positions and diagrams
* [http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/weekly-reports/ Mission state]
<!-- * [http://voycrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/heliopause/heliopause/recenthist.html Voyager Recent 6-hour History] dead link -->
* [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060523_heliosphere_shape.html Voyager 2 Detects Odd Shape of Solar System's Edge] May 23, 2006
* [http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/9.12.html#subj3.1 Voyager 2 software faults at launch, 1977 Aug 20 10:29]
* [http://twitter.com/NASAVoyager2 Voyager 2 Twitter]

{{Voyager program}}
{{Jupiter spacecraft}}
{{Saturn spacecraft}}
{{Uranus|state=collapsed}}
{{Neptune|state=collapsed}}
{{Satellite and spacecraft instruments}}
{{NASA navbox}}
{{Solar System probes}}
{{Orbital launches in 1977}}

[[Category:Radio frequency propagation]]
[[Category:Voyager program]]
[[Category:Missions to Jupiter]]
[[Category:Missions to Saturn]]
[[Category:Missions to Uranus]]
[[Category:Missions to Neptune]]
[[Category:Space probes]]
[[Category:Spacecraft escaping the Solar System]]
[[Category:1977 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:1977 in the United States]]
[[Category:1977 robots]]
[[Category:Nuclear-powered robots]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched by Titan rockets]]
[[Category:NASA space probes]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1977]]

Revision as of 12:16, 11 November 2014

{{Infobox spaceflight | name = Voyager 2

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Voyager_2&oldid=633372199"