The Supermassive Podcast · The Royal Astronomical Society

Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...

·48 min·4 clips

Voyager scientists spotted a plume on Jupiter's moon Io and initially dismissed it as a smudge on the image.

Science journalist Izzy Clark and astrophysicist Dr. Becky Smethurst host an episode on the Voyager missions, prompted by listener Suraj. Royal Astronomical Society deputy director Dr. Robert Massey recalls the Voyager planetary flybys as formative childhood memories, noting they coincided with a gap in planetary exploration after Apollo. He explains the rare 175-year planetary alignment that made a grand tour from Jupiter through Neptune possible by using each planet's gravity to slingshot the probes onward. Deputy project scientist Dr. Jamie Rankin explains that the mission originally aimed at Jupiter and Saturn but was extended after each successful flyby. Voyager 2 launched in August 1977, Voyager 1 weeks later; both are still operational at 46 years. Their orbital and instrument differences are explained: Voyager 2 retains a working plasma instrument while Voyager 1's failed near Saturn, but Voyager 1 has a more complete radio instrument. Together they give complementary measurements. Major discoveries covered include: the first observed volcanic activity outside Earth on Io during the Jupiter flyby; strong evidence for liquid water oceans beneath Europa's ice; detailed characterisation of all four gas giant ring systems; and the only close-range data on Uranus and Neptune that science has ever had. The pale blue dot photograph, taken by Voyager 1 on Valentine's Day 1990, is described as a first visceral glimpse of Earth's smallness. The heliosphere discovery is highlighted: Voyager data showed the Sun's bubble of material shields Earth from 85% of interstellar cosmic ray flux, raising the question of whether life could exist without it. Voyager 1 crossed the heliopause boundary first; Voyager 2 followed, now at approximately 135 AU. Communications take nearly two days round-trip. Rankin expresses hope the spacecraft will reach their 50th anniversary in about three years. Andrean's contribution on the Golden Records and the Voyager Interstellar Message Project is featured, connecting the mission to its cultural and philosophical dimensions.

As heard by us

A generous Voyager episode that balances engineering history with the human wish to leave a lasting witness.

The episode makes Voyager feel like a story of reach, memory, and the stubborn engineering that kept a five-year mission talking almost 50 years later.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play if you want Voyager framed as a message, a spacecraft, and a mission.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Supermassive Podcast