NASA’s Voyager 1 probe reaches the milestone of one light-day from Earth on November 18. Launched in 1977, the spacecraft is now over 16 billion miles, or 25.9 billion kilometers, away. It remains the most distant human-made object, with signals requiring 24 hours to travel between the probe and Earth.
To mark the occasion, NASA is organizing a global event on November 17 called Shine Bright for Voyager’s Light-Day. Participants are invited to use a dedicated website to flash the Voyager call sign in Morse code using mobile devices and share their signals on social media platforms.
On November 19, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will host a discussion featuring mission members and agency leadership. The event will cover the current status of the Voyager 1 and 2 probes, their ongoing scientific research in interstellar space, and the operational challenges of the mission.
The program includes a preview of a documentary scheduled for release in 2027 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the mission. Media representatives must register for the event by specific deadlines, with requirements varying for U.S. and foreign national journalists.
Voyager 1 entered interstellar space in 2012, followed by Voyager 2 in 2018. The mission is managed by Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with funding provided by the NASA Heliophysics Division. Communication is maintained through the Deep Space Network.
