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."

Voyager 2...

[jez9999]

There's a Voyager 2?! Oh God no; come back Enterprise, all is forgiven...

Re:And then what?

[niceone]

It means Janeway's going to have to pretend to be thrown all over the place while bits of the ship fall off.

Re:And then what?

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:And then what?

[mustafap]

>Why do you go on vacation to foreign places..

I think you will find he is an american, and therefore that doesn't apply.

Re:Maybe...

[Galaga88]

Much like killing Rasputin, leaving the Solar System is apparently an ongoing process marked by significant milestones.

Re:butt wobbly

[Facetious]

Sir Mix-a-lot? Is that you?

finally a use for for seti telescopes:

[andreyvul]

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

Re:Remind me again

[Nos.]

So, in space, they can hear you scream?

Re:Remind me again

[AragornSonOfArathorn]

So, in space, they can hear you scream?

Yes, but they have to take off their helmets to hear you. And then they scream.

Re:And then what?

[GodfatherofSoul]

Why do you go on vacation to foreign places...

OMG, underage Taiwanese hookers...in space?

Re:Remind me again

[magarity]

See, space is not empty
 
It's full of stars...

hrm...

[spottedkangaroo]

What is the speed of sound in a vacuum? Kinda existential...

The edge of...

[infodude]

It's going to reach the edge of the simulation, where it'll get rendered in lower resolution.

Re:Maybe...

[ghostlibrary]

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.'

...and then...

[Sebastopol]

...it will land with a "kerPLUNK!" into a half full goblet of mead at the foot of Zeus.

Re:Remind me again

[gEvil (beta)]

My God!

Cool

[twmcneil]

I can't wait to see the pictures of the Restaurant.

Re:Remind me again

[StarfishOne]

yummy! Did someone mention ice cream!?! :p

Re:Remind me again

[D4MO]

What if a tree falls, in space?

Re:Make your own termination shock.

[Anonymous Coward]

You just got that all off of wikipedia, didn't you, Mr. Expert?

Re:Price Fixing

[Bob-taro]

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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!

Welcome back!

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, plan to welcome our returning creator-seeking V-Ger overlord

Re:Will its speed change?

[p!ssa]

Thats not true, the real speed boost came from the slingshot around Oprahs ass, followed by a Chuck Norris round house kick.

Re:...and then...

[sharkey]

No, it's half empty!