EEVblog 1547 - Contacting the Voyager 2 Space Probe

[EEVblog]

How do you contact the Voyager 2 space probe?
PART 1: A detailed explanation by Richard Stephenson from the NASA Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex in Canberra on how the 70m DSS-43 dish at the CDSCC is used to still contact the Voyager 2 probe.
You can follow Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nascom1

NOTE: This video is a re-release from the EEVblog Discover channel from 2017, to hopefully find a new audience.



Part2:

Part 3:

[dr.diesel]

Assuming no hardware failures and the RTG would last, I wonder what the limit of communication is?  Meaning what year and how far away until it's likely no longer possible?

Voyager's mission duration might be hard to beat, even into the future, very cool.

[Kleinstein]

They still seem to have a little reserve in the S/N ratio and by going down in the data rate.  So something like 2x the distance could still work if nothing breaks and the probe does no loose the direction.
Chances are the speed is about average and thus also about 2x the mission time.  If really needed a larger antenna or antenna array could help.

The limiting part is likely more voyager aging, both at the RTG and other parts (e.g. gyros to change / keep the orientation) or the electronics.

[EEVblog]

They still seem to have a little reserve in the S/N ratio and by going down in the data rate.  So something like 2x the distance could still work if nothing breaks and the probe does no loose the direction.
Chances are the speed is about average and thus also about 2x the mission time.  If really needed a larger antenna or antenna array could help.
The limiting part is likely more voyager aging, both at the RTG and other parts (e.g. gyros to change / keep the orientation) or the electronics.

Yes, if Voyager physically survives, they have the margin to continue to contact it.

[Ed.Kloonk]

Since that vid came out, I understand that the craft has aged somewhat. (Fraser Cain?)

Is there a hard and fast list of what still works?

[EEVblog]

Part's 2 and 3 added.

[DL4JY]

Gorgeous report.

Especially Richard presenting this fascinating  topic in an interesting unexcited way 

BTW, does somebody happen to know if Richard is holding a radio amateur license? Being so passionated about RF.

thanks,

Juergen

[richnormand]

Love these visits to unique facilities! Thanks Dave.

Thinking of unique electronics related installations in Australia to visit have you thought of the Hornsdale Power Reserve, ie: the Tesla Big Battery.
Is it too far from you for a visit? How is it doing now? In particular with the initial fire and contract issues...

Another one might be the SKA (Square Kilometer Array) if the building process has started.

Cheers

[EEVblog]

Thinking of unique electronics related installations in Australia to visit have you thought of the Hornsdale Power Reserve, ie: the Tesla Big Battery.
Is it too far from you for a visit? How is it doing now? In particular with the initial fire and contract issues...
Another one might be the SKA (Square Kilometer Array) if the building process has started.

Just mentioned doing tours like this in another thread.
I'd like to do a lot of these, but ultimately the travel costs come out of my pocket.
The Youtube views pay a pittance, and I'm not sure my Patreons would want me spending the Patreon money on such stuff? 
Flights, rental car, accomodation, and meals all add up.
It's not that I won't be because of this, I'm actively looking at planning a trip to the Siding Springs obversatory I was invited to tour. But if I do a lot fo them then it all adds up.

[EEVblog]

BTW, does somebody happen to know if Richard is holding a radio amateur license? Being so passionated about RF.

Don't know. Ask him on twitter (nascom1)

[240RS]

Does anybody have any info on the 1/6 forward error correction code they can use. He mentioned the symbol (or signal?) power can then be some dB below the noise level and still be decoded. I know this is true in theory, but would love to hear more.

[EEVblog]

Does anybody have any info on the 1/6 forward error correction code they can use. He mentioned the symbol (or signal?) power can then be some dB below the noise level and still be decoded. I know this is true in theory, but would love to hear more.

Ask Richard on Twitter.

[240RS]

Does anybody have any info on the 1/6 forward error correction code they can use. He mentioned the symbol (or signal?) power can then be some dB below the noise level and still be decoded. I know this is true in theory, but would love to hear more.

Ask Richard on Twitter.

Thanks! Done

[floobydust]

"A series of planned commands sent to NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 21 inadvertently caused the antenna to point 2 degrees away from Earth. As a result, Voyager 2 is currently unable to receive commands or transmit data back to Earth." source 

NASA bungled that one. Hopefully in October the spacecraft successfully runs it's routine to scan but it's pretty old and I wonder how the SRAM is doing.