Voyager 1: The Engine-less Journey Through Space
Voyager 1, launched in 1977, continues to travel through space at 38,000 miles per hour without an active engine, relying on momentum from past planetary encounters.
Editorial Staff
1 min read
Updated about 2 hours ago
Voyager 1 is often envisioned as a spacecraft still propelling itself through the cosmos, but this is a misconception. The probe's current speed is entirely due to the gravitational assists it received from the planets it passed during its journey.
Since its flyby of Saturn in 1980, Voyager 1 has maintained a speed of 38,000 miles per hour, a remarkable feat achieved through careful planning and execution of its trajectory.
As of November, Voyager 1 will be one light-day away from Earth, a testament to its incredible journey through the solar system and beyond.