Mission Lifetimes
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - 12:40
in Astronomy & Space
All space missions end-- some with a whimper, some with a 'fwoosh' of reentry. For longevity, it's hard to surpass the twin Voyager probes. They have been flying steadily for almost 30 years (since 1977), have passed the heliopause's termination shock, and are still cruising on momentum and sending back messages using the power equivalent of just 3 light bulbs. read more