Ep 6. Voyager's Ultimate Mission

In season 10 episode 6 of How the Universe Works, titled "Voyager's Ultimate Mission," viewers are taken on a journey to learn about one of the most famous space missions of all time - the Voyager 1 and 2 missions. Launched in the late 1970s, these spacecraft were designed to capture data and images as they made their way out of our solar system and out into interstellar space.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the Voyager missions and the incredible scientific discoveries that have been made as a result of the spacecraft's observations. Viewers are given a glimpse into the sheer size and complexity of the Voyager spacecraft, which were loaded with a range of instruments to measure everything from the magnetic fields of different planets to the temperature and density of interstellar gas.

As the episode progresses, viewers are taken on a tour of some of the most iconic images and discoveries made by the Voyager missions. From stunning images of Jupiter's swirling clouds and Saturn's majestic rings to the discovery of volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io, the Voyager missions provided scientists with unprecedented insights into the workings of our solar system.

The episode also discusses some of the key challenges faced by the Voyager missions, including the constant risk of damage from cosmic radiation and the limited lifespan of many of the spacecraft's instruments. Despite these challenges, both Voyager 1 and 2 have continued to send back data and images from the edge of our solar system, providing scientists with valuable insights into the nature of interstellar space.

But perhaps the most exciting part of the episode comes towards the end, where viewers are given a glimpse into the future of the Voyager missions. With both spacecraft still operational and continuing to transmit data back to Earth, scientists are excited about the possibility of detecting the elusive boundary between our solar system and interstellar space - a region known as the heliopause.

But even beyond the heliopause, there's a chance that the Voyager missions could continue to provide valuable insights into the workings of our galaxy and the universe as a whole. With technology developing at an incredible pace, it's not outside the realm of possibility that one day we may be able to communicate with the Voyager spacecraft even as they venture out into the great expanse of space.

Overall, "Voyager's Ultimate Mission" is a fascinating glimpse into one of the most remarkable space missions of all time. From the incredible images captured by the Voyager spacecraft to the insights gained from its decades-long journey through space, this episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the wonders of the universe.