Voyager 1 to reach one light-day distance from Earth on November 18
The NASA spacecraft will be 16.09 billion miles away, marking a historic milestone for the farthest human-made object.
NASA's Voyager 1 is set to reach a distance of 16.09 billion miles (25.89 billion kilometres) from Earth on November 18, according to the Hindustan Times. This distance represents one light-day, meaning light requires 24 hours to travel between the spacecraft and Earth.
The probe, which was launched 49 years ago, is currently travelling at a speed of 28,000 mph. It became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space in August 2012.
Maintaining the ageing probe is becoming difficult as its power supply declines. Both Voyager spacecraft use radioisotope thermoelectric generators that convert heat from plutonium decay into electricity, but they lose approximately 4 watts of power every year, Mint reported.
To extend the mission, engineers completed an energy conservation project in September nicknamed the "Big Bang". This involved replacing three devices to reduce electricity consumption and maintain heat distribution.
The spacecraft recently experienced a technical issue when the Deep Space Network lost contact on October 18 and 19. However, Voyager 1 re-established communication on October 20, and no further disruptions have been reported.
Voyager 1's twin, Voyager 2, is expected to reach the one light-day mark in November 2035. Both probes carry a Golden Record containing sounds, images, and greetings from Earth.