Voyager 1 is living the ultimate epic journey dream—it’s been on the move for nearly 48 years, since its launch on September 5, 1977.
It’s currently about 22.3 light-hours from Earth, which equates to a staggering 24 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) away. And get this: it’s still hurtling through space at a staggering speed of about 61,000 km/h (38,000 mph). Talk about never hitting traffic!
If all continues as planned, Voyager 1 will reach an incredible milestone around November 15, 2026, when it will be a full light-day from Earth—approximately 25.9 billion kilometers (16 billion miles) away. That means even a ray of light, the Usain Bolt of the universe, would need a full 24 hours just to reach it.
It’s amazing to think that this little spaceship, built with 1970s technology and with less computing power than a modern smartwatch, is still out there, hurtling toward interstellar space and carrying that famous Golden Record, a cosmic mixtape for any curious aliens it might encounter. Not bad for something older than the first Star Wars movie!
