The Little Spaecraft That Could

   Voyager 1 is poised to leave the solar system. Voyagers 1 and 2 were launched 35 years ago in 1977, and after taking magnificent pictures of Jupiter and Saturn among others, both were sent on trajectories which will see them head into interstellar space.
   Now, Voyager 1 has hit the "magnetic highway", a region where the effects from outside our system can be measured, even though mission scientists say it could be another year or 3 before the 1560 pound craft finally crosses over. The craft is also nearly 18 billion kilometers from the sun, while it's sister craft Voyager 2 is some 14 billion kilometers out.
   And scientists are still getting data from them! That's because both are using plutonium as a power source. The cameras that took so many stunning pictures, including a panorama of our solar system dubbed the "Family Portrait" some 22 years ago, were turned off after that landmark of some 60 images including our earth. The planet the late, great Carl Sagan called "The Pale Blue Dot".
   How much longer will they keep going? Mission specialists expect they could go on transmitting for another 8 years, until 2020. Then they will go "dark" for the final time as they head deeper into interstellar space.
   And if someone or thing comes across them in the future? Both have golden records attached which contain both pictures and images. And keep in mind, these are analog, not digital.
   For the record, both Voyagers were supposed to last only 5 years! So keep on going!
   'Nuff said.