Voyagers Still Voyaging

On August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 was launched towards the outer Solar System. On September 5, 1977, Voyager 1 was launched. Yes, that's right. Voyager 1 was launched on a path that would get it to Jupiter first, so even though it was launched second, it was designated Voyager 1. That bit of confusion kicked off a double mission that revoltutionized our understanding of the complexity of the cosmos.

Over the first 12 years of their flights, the Voyagers transformed Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune from tiny disks in our telescopes into three-dimensional giant worlds. They showed us the magnificent roiling in Jupiter's atmosphere in fine detail, and the thousands of ringlets that make up the broad, awesome rings of Saturns. The Voyagers showed us the four largest moons of Jupiter were full-fledged worlds in their own rights, laying the foundation for a new appreciation of the possibilities in the universe.

Thirty years into flights that may never end, both Voyagers are still in touch with Earth, still sending back data on their environment as they approach true interstellar space. Each probe is an everlasting testament to the vision and skill of the people who created them.