Added 1 new A* page:From AP News: In an illustration of tiny things that can have critical consequences in spaceflight, NASA flight controllers of the 46-year-old Voyager 2 probe, now outside our Solar System and more than 12 billion miles from Earth, "accidentally sent a wrong command nearly two weeks ago that tilted the spacecraft's antenna away from Earth and severed contact."
NASA's Deep Space Network picked up a "heartbeat signal" from the probe today, showing that it is still operational. They plan to send a command that would turn its antenna—which is now turned 2 degrees off-target—back to Earth. However, this is not expected to work.
From blogs.nasa.gov: "Voyager 2 is programmed to reset its orientation multiple times each year to keep its antenna pointing at Earth; the next reset will occur on Oct. 15, which should enable communication to resume. The mission team expects Voyager 2 to remain on its planned trajectory during the quiet period."
Commands take 18 hours to reach the probe. "Its identical twin Voyager 1" "is now 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth, making it the most distant spacecraft."
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The original 16" x 6.75" watercolor art for today's new A* page is up for auction on eBay. : )
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