Voyager 1 and 2 (NASA)
Launched in 1977, the twin Voyagers are in interstellar space, and on Nov. 18, 2026, Voyager 1 will be one light-day from Earth (NASA).
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech (PIA22835).
Last reviewed: 3 sources cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are two spacecraft that left Earth in 1977.
- They flew past the giant planets and are now outside the bubble the Sun makes around itself.
- On Nov. 18, 2026, Voyager 1 will be so far away that its radio signal takes a whole day to reach us.
The Five W's of Voyager
Who
NASA. Five science investigation teams use the spacecraft, which still have four operating instruments between them.
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
What
Twin robotic spacecraft. Their main mission explored Jupiter and Saturn; Voyager 2 then went on to Uranus and Neptune.
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
When
Voyager 2 launched on Aug. 20, 1977, and Voyager 1 on Sept. 5, 1977, both from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
Where
In interstellar space, the region between stars. Voyager 1 crossed into it in August 2012 and Voyager 2 on Nov. 5, 2018.
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
Why
The Voyager Interstellar Mission extends exploration to the outer limits of the Sun's sphere of influence, and possibly beyond.
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
Impact Statement
Agency solution · active
On Nov. 18, 2026, at 2:16:07 a.m. PST, Voyager 1 will be 16.094 billion miles (25.902 billion km) from Earth, the distance light travels in 24 hours (NASA).
Source: NASA, Where are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 now?
For Further Information: NASA, Where are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 now?
To stretch their power, engineers have switched off instruments one by one; Voyager 1's cameras have been off since 1990 (NASA).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Voyager's discoveries, from active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io to details of Saturn's rings, are shared knowledge for everyone (NASA).
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
For Nature
Voyager studies the heliosphere, the bubble the Sun blows around our solar system, which surrounds Earth and all life on it (NASA).
Source: NASA, Voyager mission overview
Get Involved With Voyager
Want to go deeper? NASA has the full Voyager story.
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