[FPSPACE] Interview with Ed Stone on the Voyager spacecraft

[LARRY KLAES]

Voyager spacecraft on the outer edge of the solar system

(Science Show: 15/03/2008)

The Voyager spacecraft are at the outer edge of the solar
system. Voyager 1 is at 105 astronomical units. Neptune is
only at 30 astronomical units. (One unit is the distance between
the Earth and the Sun). Signals are received from the craft
every day despite the transmitter on the craft being only 20
watts.

The Voyager craft are expected to enter interstellar space in
about five years time. Conditions outside the heliosphere are
expected to be quite different from those within. Material floating
around will be from other stars. The magnetic field will be different.
Interstellar wind will be denser, and radio signals picked up by
the craft should be stronger, with stronger cosmic rays. Energy
for the craft, from the decay of plutonium will cool and power
will run out some time after 2020.

Full transcript here:

http://abcmail.net.au/t/111452/687780/2355/0/