Just a quick acknowledgment that a landmark, and largely unnoticed, moment in human history is very nearly upon us: the first ape-made objects ever launched from Earth are close to entering interstellar space. The NASA/JPL people won’t know for sure that it’s happened until it happens. But, after some 30-plus years of cruising smartly along, Voyagers 1 and 2 are on the threshold of poking their little antenna-noses out of the Solar System proper and boldly going you-know-where. Really an awesome and momentous achievement… our first baby step toward the stars. Bravo to all who helped these dauntless explorer-droids on their journey. (And cheers also to an American public which, in the distant past, believed that this sort of scientific endeavor was worth their tax money…. Oh? We can’t afford it? Tell the obscenely non-taxed Exxon Mobil guys that as they wave goodbye and vanish into their private helicopters en route to Monte Carlo.)
(Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
