Voyager 1
Robotic missionActive
Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar-space explorer
Voyager 1 launched in 1977, transformed the study of Jupiter and Saturn, and used its close Titan encounter to leave the planetary plane. It crossed the heliopause in August 2012, becoming the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space, and continues its extended fields-and-particles mission.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting Voyager 1. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
Voyager 1 official archive image
Official NASA archive imagery explicitly cataloged for Voyager 1.
Voyager 1 Launch
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft launched atop its Titan/Centaur-6 launch vehicle from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex in Florida on September 5, 1977, at 8:56 a.m. local time. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21746
Jupiter with Satellite Io
NASA Voyager 1 took this photo of Jupiter Feb. 1, 1979. Voyager scientists saw that different colors in clouds around the Great Red Spot imply that the clouds swirl around the spot at varying altitudes. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00235
Launch record
Explore this mission’s launch, including its vehicle, launch site, payload, and outcome.
Voyager 1
launch attemptDeep-space attemptcompletedNo reviewed launch image5 connectionsMission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- September 5, 1977[1]
Places and recovery
- Destination
- Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space[1]
Mission record
- Jupiter closest approach
- March 5, 1979[1]
- Saturn closest approach
- November 12, 1980[1]
- Interstellar-space entry
- August 2012[1]
- Status
- Active extended mission[1]
- Launch vehicle
- Titan IIIE-Centaur[1]
- Mission type
- Robotic planetary and interstellar mission[1]
- Crew members
- 0[1]
- Program
- Voyager[1]
- Outcome
- Primary mission completed; extended mission active[1]
- Archive classification
- Robotic or uncrewed spaceflight[1]
- Primary objective
- Study Jupiter and Saturn, then characterize the outer heliosphere and interstellar environment[1]
Trajectory profile
2 sourcesFollow the mission from departure through its flight environment, destination, and final phase. This sequence is not a scale orbital plot.
Mission Purpose
2 sources- Operate Voyager 1 at Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space while collecting the mission's planned science or engineering measurements.
- Return and preserve the mission's observations, engineering results, and lessons for later exploration work.
- Farthest human-made object.
- Navigate Voyager 1 from launch through cruise, approach, , , or encounter at Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- September 5, 1977
Voyager 1 begins
Voyager 1 was assigned to Operate Voyager 1 at Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space while collecting the mission's planned science or engineering measurements.
- Primary phase
Return and preserve the mission's observations, engineering results, and lessons for later exploration work
Robotic spacecraft: Voyager 1; Destination: Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space
- Mission objective
Farthest human-made object
Voyager 1 operated within Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space to pursue the program objective.
- Active
Voyager 1 outcome
Voyager 1 concluded with the recorded status Active: Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar-space explorer.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- September 5, 1977
Voyager 1 begins
Voyager 1 began Voyager 1 to Operate Voyager 1 at Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space while collecting the mission's planned science or engineering measurements.
- Operations
Return and preserve the mission's observations, engineering results, and lessons for later exploration work
Robotic spacecraft: Voyager 1; Destination: Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space
- Defining result
Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar-space explorer
Voyager 1 launched in 1977, transformed the study of Jupiter and Saturn, and used its close Titan encounter to leave the planetary plane.
- Active
Voyager 1: Active
Navigate Voyager 1 from launch through cruise, approach, , , or encounter at Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space.