Where's Voyager?

[Milossarian]

Sorry, Trekkies, this isn't a reference to that sorry spinoff (I'm a 'Next Gen' man meself).

What's the status of our deepest deep-space probe, Voyager? Where is it at this point? What's the next thing we're expecting to get from it (if anything in our lifetimes)?

Where is it headed? Any particular points of galactic interest in its long-term future?

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"You should tell the truth, expose the lies and live in the moment." - Bill Hicks

[Ursa Major]

Actually, The Voyager(s) isn't the "deepest" space probe. Pioneer is, and it left the Solar System more than a decade ago. Voyager I and II weren't technically "deep space" probes. Their primary missions were to explore the gas giants, which they've already done. The only potential "deep space" mission I can think of is the far fetched one of introducing our species to sentient life outside our system. That's what the "gold phonograph record" was all about. As far as I know JPL lost touch with these probes, long ago.

[Ursa Major]

Note to self: Do research first, THEN answer question.

I was totally wrong! Go here to read the latest updates on the Voyager missions.
http://vraptor.jpl.nasa.gov/voyager/vimdesc.html

[Cheese Head]

Interesting. So V1 and V2 are both expected to provide data until 2020. I didn't know there was such a thing as solar and interstellar wind.

[Ursa Major]

Here's the link about Pioneer 10 that I posted before the board crashed.

http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/PNhome.html