Voyager 1 approaches a historic milestone

Voyager 1 spacecraft approaches One light-day from Earth, 25.9 billion km distance 

NASA's spacecraft is about to become the first human-made object to reach a distance of one light day from Earth. Voyager 1 spacecraft is approaching a historic milestone by becoming the first human-made object to reach a distance of one light day from Earth. Currently about 15.7 billion miles (25.3 billion km's) from our planet, Voyager 1 will be 16.1 billion miles (25.9 billion km's) away by 2026, meaning it will take 24 hours for a signal to travel between Earth and the probe.

Launched in 1977 alongside its twin, Voyager 2, Voyager 1 became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space in 2012 and remains the farthest human-made object from Earth. From the moment Voyager 1 reaches this milestone, commands sent to the spacecraft will take a full day to reach it and another day for confirmation to return. According to Science Clock, the satellite is going to be 16.1 billion miles or 25.9 billion km's away on 15 Nov, 2026, 49 years, 2 months and 10 days since it launched. This means that the spacecraft travels at an approximate speed of 37,300 miles per hour (over 60,000 km's per hour) or more than 10 miles per second. At its current distance, it takes about a day to send commands to Voyager 1 and another day for it to respond.

NASA launched Voyager 1 on 05 Sep, 1977, to explore the giant gas planets Jupiter and Saturn, as well as some of their moons, and completed this mission in November 1980. After 10 years, the space agency began the Voyager Interstellar Mission, where it would explore the space outside the vicinity of our solar system. By 2004, it had entered the space where the solar wind from the sun slows down, with the satellite entering interstellar space in 2012. The satellite is powered by three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which are expected to last until the 2030s, meaning we can still get a few years out of the Voyager 1. Its journey was actually almost cut short back in 2023, when a bit flip or corruption caused a critical memory error which prevented it from sending telemetry to move and align the spacecraft. Thankfully, the scientists and engineers were able to fix the issue, allowing it to continue its mission and gather data from the farthest corners of deep space.

Voyager 1's journey has already yielded iconic discoveries, including flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, and the famous "pale blue dot" image of Earth, suggested by astrophysicist Carl Sagan. Its twin, Voyager 2, crossed the outer edge of the solar system in 2018 and remains the second-most distant human-made object. Although it feels that Voyager 1 has covered a massive amount of distance since it was launched, it’s actually minuscule relative to the scale of the universe. Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system, is four light-years away, meaning it will take Voyager 1 at least 73,000 years to reach it at its current speed. Its batteries would have been long dead by then, but NASA also put a golden record on the spacecraft with the hopes that an alien civilization would find it and initiate contact in the far future.

Despite having about 3 million times less memory than a modern smartphone, the Voyagers continue to function, making them the longest-running missions in NASA's history. Voyager 1's nuclear power source is expected to keep it operational for at least another year.

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All-Day electricity for free

 New Technology can generate Power 24/7 for Free, Is this the end of solar?     

A Netherlands-based company has taken a major step forward in turning ocean waves into practical clean energy. While it may not completely “end” solar energy, Symphony Wave Power’s new underwater converter is a major breakthrough. It offers free, clean and continuous electricity from ocean waves, without depending on sunlight or wind. Symphony Wave Power new wave energy converter uses pressure created by passing waves to generate electricity. This new technology is getting global attention, and some people are even calling it the possible “end of solar.” The company has created an innovative system which can turn ocean waves into electricity all day long, even at night. This technology could become a major part of the future of clean energy.

The system works completely underwater. As waves move across its exterior, the device moves with them to capture energy. The company says this motion-based approach increases efficiency by up to 500% compared to traditional non-resonant wave energy designs. One of the biggest problems with wave energy has always been inconsistency. Waves don’t always arrive in a steady pattern, so traditional systems struggle to produce constant electricity. Symphony Wave Power has solved this by letting their device absorb energy from multiple waves at the same time. Whether the ocean is calm or strong, the device can still generate useful power. This makes the technology more reliable and more suitable for large-scale energy production. Symphony Wave Power’s converter is engineered to capture energy from multiple waves at the same time, improving total output and helping address one of the biggest challenges in wave power.

Unlike traditional wave-energy machines which sits on the surface of the water, Symphony Wave Power’s device stays fully underwater. As ocean waves pass over it, the pressure changes around the device. These natural pressure changes make the equipment move, and this movement is converted into electricity. What makes this invention special is its design. The company says this system is up to 500% more efficient than older wave power technologies. Because it moves with the waves instead of fighting against them, it can collect much more energy with less effort. The company also emphasizes that the converter is designed with sustainability in mind. It is built from recyclable materials and can be installed with minimal impact on the marine environment. Because it operates underwater and requires little to no maintenance, long-term operating costs remain low.

The company also focused on sustainability while designing this new wave converter. The machine is made from recyclable materials, reducing waste and environmental impact. Since it is installed underwater, it also has very little effect on marine life or the surrounding ecosystem. Another big advantage is that it requires minimal maintenance. Because the system is built to operate underwater without constant human supervision, it can run for long periods without repairs. This lowers the overall cost of using the device and makes it more practical for long-term energy production. The new converter could play a meaningful role in the renewable energy market, where companies continue to look for alternatives to reduce pollution and slow global temperature rise. Harnessing energy from ocean waves provides a clean, continuous power source which does not rely on weather conditions in the same way as solar or wind.

The renewable energy market is growing quickly as countries try to cut pollution and reduce global warming. Solar and wind energy are already popular, but both depend heavily on weather. Solar panels only work during the day, and wind turbines need strong wind to generate power. Ocean waves, however, never stop. They continue day and night, in every season. This makes wave energy one of the most reliable sources of clean power. If Symphony Wave Power’s system becomes widely used, it could provide nonstop electricity, something solar energy cannot do on its own. After completing key dry-testing phases, Symphony Wave Power expects the system to move toward offshore deployment in 2026. “What started as engineering on paper is now in motion,” the company said, calling the test results “a major milestone” in its development roadmap. After completing important land-based testing, the company is preparing for real ocean deployment. They called the recent test results a major success and an important step forward in their development. If the upcoming ocean tests go well, this technology could help power coastal cities, offshore communities and even entire countries in the future. With further development, wave power could become one of the most important energy sources in the world.

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