Voyager 1
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 dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- September 5, 1977
Places and recovery
- Destination
- Jupiter, Saturn, and interstellar space
Mission record
- Jupiter closest approach
- March 5, 1979
- Saturn closest approach
- November 12, 1980
- Interstellar-space entry
- August 2012
- Status
- Active extended mission
- Launch vehicle
- Titan IIIE-Centaur
- Vehicle
- Voyager 1
- Mission type
- Robotic planetary and interstellar mission
- Crew members
- 0
- Program
- Voyager
- Outcome
- Primary mission completed; extended mission active
- Archive classification
- Robotic or uncrewed spaceflight
- Primary objective
- Study Jupiter and Saturn, then characterize the outer heliosphere and interstellar environment
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.