This mission would end because the Radio Thermal Isotope Generators (RTGs)
died. No power, no radio transmission, no matter how good the receiver is.
And if I recall correctly, the reason we can't currently hear it is because
the high gain antenna is not dead-nuts on towards earth, because of the plane
of the ecleptic, or some such.
--John
On Sunday 11 May 2003 00:10 am, TeoZ wrote:
> Wether its sending back data is mute since its too far away for that data
> to get to us. Its missin was to send back data on everything it found, why
> would that misson ever end since its still moving through space?
>
> I dont understand your logic. The Voyager is ruled out because it might be
> too far away to have its valid data (stuff it was made to send back on
> purpose) get back to us, but the recieving equipment that will never get
> any data back since the signal isnt getting back is still a valid system?
>
> Would an old obsolete college computer that runs a 300 baud bbs still be
> valid if nobody knows about it, or even called it and the college forgot to
> shut it down in the last 40 years?
>
> If somebody fires up an old 50's analog computer in a museum just to see if
> it still kicks is it really "in use"?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "chris" <cb_at_mythtech.net>
> To: "Classic Computers" <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 11:46 PM
> Subject: Re: Oldest computer still in current use
>
> > >What about the computer sent out in the Voyager spacecraft in the 70's?
>
> Or
>
> > >is this just personal computers?
> >
> > Well, for my question, it doesn't matter if it is personal computer or a
> > mainframe or whatever.
> >
> > Although I would rule out the Voyager computer for two reasons. 1: You
> > can't say for sure that it is still running (is it still sending back
> > data?) and 2: Its only still running because no one shut it off.
> >
> > However, I WOULD consider any original ground based systems that are
> > still in use listening for data from Voyager to be valid. At least they
> > are still serving a purpose even if they aren't getting any data.
> >
> > -chris
> > <http://www.mythtech.net>
Received on Sat May 10 2003 - 23:44:00 BST