Konstantin Sukharnikov Scientific instrumentation

A hobby. An independent overview compiled from public sources by a science and space enthusiast. I am not involved in these missions or facilities; my own work is detector electronics at European XFEL. My projects →

Mission · Kuiper belt & beyond

Voyager 1 & 2

Flyby spacecraft, now an interstellar mission

Status
Extended mission
Launched
20 Aug 1977
Target
Interstellar space
Agencies
NASA, JPL
Next
18 Nov 2026 Voyager 1 one light-day from Earth

Summary

The most distant human-made objects, both now in interstellar space. As the power of their radioisotope generators declines, instruments are being switched off one by one; most science instruments are already off, but both spacecraft are still in contact.

Now as of 3 Nov 2026

On 18 November 2026 Voyager 1 becomes the first spacecraft one light-day from Earth (about 25.9 billion km): its signal will take 24 hours to reach us. Science News gives the time as 05:16:07 EST (10:16 UTC); other reports mentioned 13 and 15 November, which were earlier estimates (Science News, EarthSky). The yearly swing in distance caused by Earth's own orbit will no longer bring it back inside that mark.

Key dates

  1. 20 Aug 1977Voyager 2 launchdone
  2. 5 Sep 1977Voyager 1 launchdone
  3. 25 Aug 2012Voyager 1 enters interstellar spacedone
  4. 5 Nov 2018Voyager 2 enters interstellar spacedone
  5. 18 Nov 2026Voyager 1 one light-day from Earthevent

Timeline

  1. Dec 2025Wide coverage of the coming one-light-day milestone — CNN via KVIA