Slashdot Mirror
Voyager 2 Set to Reach Termination Shock
Invisible Pink Unicorn writes "A computer model simulation developed at UC Riverside has predicted that in late 2007 to early 2008, the interplanetary spacecraft Voyager 2 will cross the termination shock, the spherical shell around the solar system that marks where the solar wind slows down to subsonic speed. At the termination shock, located at 7-8.5 billion miles from the sun, the solar wind is decelerated to less than the speed of sound. The boundary of the termination shock is not fixed, however, but wobbly, fluctuating in both time and distance from the sun, depending on solar activity. Because of this fluctuation, the spacecraft is also predicted to cross the boundary again in middle 2008. The article abstract is available from The Astrophysical Journal."
There's a Voyager 2?! Oh God no; come back Enterprise, all is forgiven...
== Jez ==
Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
It means Janeway's going to have to pretend to be thrown all over the place while bits of the ship fall off.
ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
Speaking as someone working on the project, posting anonymously for obvious reasons, I can give a little info. When the spacecraft reaches termination shock, it is quite likely that all the transistors will fall off the pcb's that make up the electronics. Chances are this isn't so bad, as their are lots of backup resistors, but if theres a leak in the spacecraft's petrol tank then it might be ignited by some arcing currents, which would probably throw it off course a bit.
>Why do you go on vacation to foreign places..
I think you will find he is an american, and therefore that doesn't apply.
Open Source Drum Kit, LPLC deve board - mjhdesigns.com
Much like killing Rasputin, leaving the Solar System is apparently an ongoing process marked by significant milestones.
Sir Mix-a-lot? Is that you?
Let us not become the evil that we deplore.
they will be used to get data from voyager 2 on conditions at the edge of the solar system
however, a wobbly spacetime continuum means that voyager 2 must be running linux
because the wobbly spacetime is an infinite loop, only linux can escape it in 5 seconds
but time at the termination shock is slow enough that 5 seconds will be 2 years
proud caffeine whore
So, in space, they can hear you scream?
sudo eat my shorts
Why do you go on vacation to foreign places...
OMG, underage Taiwanese hookers...in space?I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
See, space is not empty
It's full of stars...
What is the speed of sound in a vacuum? Kinda existential...
Imagine if you weren't allowed to use roads because a bus company complained about your driving 3 times. --skunkpussy
It's going to reach the edge of the simulation, where it'll get rendered in lower resolution.
-- Only information exists, the rest is just smoke and mirrors.
Yep, Voyager has approached the theoretical location of the termination shock often-- and each time, we get to revise our theories and have a better understanding of just how interesting our sun is. The joke among solar physicists is: "Where is the termination shock?" 'Just past Voyager.'
A.
...it will land with a "kerPLUNK!" into a half full goblet of mead at the foot of Zeus.
https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
My God!
This guy's the limit!
I can't wait to see the pictures of the Restaurant.
"The ferrets, they're every where I tell you!"
yummy! Did someone mention ice cream!?! :p
What if a tree falls, in space?
Rocket science is easy. Neurosurgery, now *that's* difficult.
You just got that all off of wikipedia, didn't you, Mr. Expert?
Today only! Closeout prices! Everything in the store is 3 cents off! That's right, 3 cents off! That's lower than sale price! Even lower than clearance sale price! Don't miss this amazing opportunity!
Prov 9:8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
I, for one, plan to welcome our returning creator-seeking V-Ger overlord
Thats not true, the real speed boost came from the slingshot around Oprahs ass, followed by a Chuck Norris round house kick.