These are the objects more distant from the Earth, bearing a message of peace, of baroque music and rock for hypothetical aliens ever made by man: 40 years ago, the probes Voyager 1 and 2 took their flight from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
"No one knew, when we launched (the probes) 40 years ago, everything would work again and that we would continue this journey of pioneers", is ecstatic Ed Stone, Chief Scientist of the project.
In 1977, the furthest planets of our solar system were still unknown and the two small probes have changed the history of astronomy.
But it is the gold disc that they carry on a flank, which is engraved on it, but also Carl Sagan, the astronomer in the face of Angel who compiled it, which makes it the most romantic of the missions of exploration of the universe.
If one day an alien civilization put the hand--or the tentacles--over it, it could discover through the manual engraved on the disk essential information about humanity and even clues to find our planet.
Explore new worlds Recorded sounds include the song of the Whales, rock with "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, many Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as music from the Aborigines of Australia, Peru, and Zaire and Japan.
The images range from mathematical formulas to a breastfeeding woman or a human embryo in her mother's womb. And more trivial things like a Chinese meal, an airport or the interior of a factory.
Carl Sagan, an astronomer who had in the years 1980 a status of rock star through his popular television programs, his books and a young physics first, led the selection committee with a global resonance.
Voyager 2 was launched first, on August 20, 1977, followed by Voyager 1 on September 5, but placed on a shorter and faster trajectory that allowed him to overtake his twin. He now rushes into interstellar space at almost 17 kilometers per second, against just over 15 to travel 2.
The Voyager mission not only had to face the rigors of space to survive. The budget was tight and the exploration technology was still very limited. To prevent the cables from frying under the effect of radiation, a scientist remembers them having wrapped them in a vulgar kitchen foil.
Cherish this little blue dot
The cosmic duo did see the solar system with unmatched precision until then. The first images of the great red spot, a huge storm of the size of two lands that rages on Jupiter, have inspired scientists.
"At the time they were images of better quality than what any earthly telescope could offer," recalls Alan Cummings, a researcher who worked on the project in 1973.
The mission travel has also revealed the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter, signs - since confirmed - the existence of an ocean under the surface of another, Europa, and showed that geysers were spitting ice on Triton, a satellite of Neptune.
The astronomy books have been rewritten thanks to the probes. "They have revolutionized planetary astronomy," says Nasa.
But their biggest impact on humanity is perhaps due to an image, among the thousands taken.
Where are they?
Carl Sagan asked if Voyager 1 take pictures of remote Earth then 6.4 billion kilometres. It was taken the day of Valentine, the celebration of love in many countries, in 1990.
The Earth then appeared as a tiny dot, a dust in a beam of light, less than one pixel in the vastness of space.
"I think this perspective underscores our responsibility to preserve and cherish this little pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known," said Mr. Sagan. The formula was a hit.
Voyager 1 is the furthest object ever built by man, after entering 2012 in interstellar space. It was at the end of August at nearly 20.9 billion kilometers from the earth. It would take 19 hours and 20 minutes to reach it at the speed of light.
It has been a long time since the probes have taken pictures but instruments are still transmitting data to Earth.
Both vessels can produce sufficient energy to survive and communicate until 2020, according to Nasa's estimates.
Then it will be inert objects but bear a certain idea of humanity and its hopes.
Credits : Nasa.gov
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