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Author
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Topic: Random Space thoughts
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TheMoMan
BlabberMouth, a Blabber Odyssey
Member # 1659
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posted February 03, 2013 05:50
The Voyager ships, one or both of them is out past Pluto. Still phones home. Now think about this, how is it getting its power, we know it does not have an extension cord. How much solar energy would still be striking its solar cells, or is it one of those that had a small reactor aboard?
CMEs we just had a good one.
The Escapist : News : Nasa
This next one may be a little close.
EconomicTimes
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If it don't glow it ain't Ham Radio
Posts: 5071 | From: Just South of the Huron National Forest, in the water shed of the Rifle River | Registered: Sep 2002
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The Famous Druid
Gold Hearted SuperFan!
Member # 1769
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posted February 03, 2013 06:52
quote:
Originally posted by TheMoMan:
How much solar energy would still be striking its solar cells, or is it one of those that had a small reactor aboard?
It has a small plutonium powered thermoelectric generator.
IIRC, the power supplied is slowly declining, they've been gradually shutting down non-essential systems for years now. In a few years they'll have to shut down the gyros, if that causes the comms dish to lose alignment, we'll lose contact with the probes.
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If you watch 'The History Of NASA' backwards, it's about a space agency that has no manned spaceflight capability, then does low-orbit flights, then lands on the Moon.
Posts: 10312 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Oct 2002
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