Voyagers in Space

Voyagers in Space

One Tough Job The United States sent two Voyager spacecraft into space in 1977. Their job was to fly past Jupiter and Saturn, two giant planets in our solar system.

Scientists built the Voyagers to be tough. Still, they thought the Voyagers would only work for about five years. More than thirty-five years later, both spacecraft are still working.

Planning The trip was carefully planned. The planets all move around the Sun at different speeds. Sometimes they are on the same side of the Sun. Sometimes they are on opposite sides. In the late 1970s, the four biggest planets in our solar system all lined up near each other. They were close enough together that the Voyagers could visit them all in one trip.

The Main Task The Voyagers' first job was to study Jupiter and Saturn, their larger moons, and Saturn's rings. As the two spacecraft flew, they made discoveries about our solar system.

Jupiter The Voyagers' first target was Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet. People had already seen Jupiter through telescopes, but the Voyagers gave a much better view. They showed that the Great Red Spot was a huge, spinning storm. They discovered a ring around Jupiter, like the ones around Saturn. They also helped scientists learn more about Jupiter's moons.