this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
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Voyager 1 loses contact with NASA, turns on retro transmitter not used since 1981 (www.livescience.com)
submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/space
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[–] [email protected] 47 points 4 weeks ago (16 children)

It's sad it'll probably lose contact relatively soon. Does anyone know if there are any plans for a new long distance probe?

[–] roofuskit 55 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (12 children)

They're already out there. Just don't get as much news as Voyager. Unfortunately I don't think any will be capable of lasting as long since we stopped using the radio isotope generators. New horizons is currently in the Kupier belt. It's the 5th such probe to reach escape velocity from our solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 were the other non-voyager probes.

Edit: I was incorrect, new horizons does use an RTG for power. But right now its mission is slated to end in 2029. I wonder if it will be kept alive like the Voyager probes.

Edit 2: yeah, the RTG is slated to run out of power to run the transmitters in the 2030s. It was originally designed to be more powerful but the DOE delayed delivery of the plutonium 238 required.

[–] XeroxCool 7 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

Dept of Education? D O Emissions? Can't figure it out even with some searching

[–] [email protected] 22 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Department of Energy. The main role is to handle the radioactive materials that the government creates and uses

[–] Serinus 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Also one of the three departments Rick Perry (R-Texas) couldn't remember that he wanted to eliminate.

[–] Treczoks 4 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

"See? If there is no government agency handlin' radioactive waste, that problem goes away!"

[–] Serinus 5 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

He did change his tune after he became Secretary of Energy.

Also, May 15, 2023 β€” Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry would not support former President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign when asked on Sunday,

[–] Treczoks 3 points 4 weeks ago

Something like rats and sinking ships come to mind. Now that Trump shows his true fashist colors, some REPs don't want to end up as Trumps Himmler or GΓΆring...

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 weeks ago

Department of Energy.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Department of Entropy

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago

Department of Enthalpy

[–] hohoho 5 points 4 weeks ago

Department of Energy

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