If we were to make contact with a Voyager spacecraft or any other space probe outside of our solar system, it would be a significant scientific achievement and a milestone for humanity. Here's what would likely happen and how we could establish contact:
Detection: First, we would need to detect the signal or presence of the spacecraft. This could be done through various means, such as radio telescopes or other deep-space communication systems. Scientists would analyze the received signals and data to confirm the presence of the probe.
Communication: Once the presence of the spacecraft is confirmed, establishing communication would be the next step. We would need to transmit signals towards the probe and receive its responses. Radio waves, which travel at the speed of light, would be the primary means of communication.
Time delay: Due to the vast distances involved, there would be a significant time delay in communication. For example, Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object from Earth, is currently over 14 billion miles away. Signals traveling at the speed of light would take more than 20 hours to reach Voyager 1 and another 20 hours for the response to reach us. Patience and careful planning would be required to account for this time delay.
Data exchange: Once communication is established, we could exchange data with the probe. This would include scientific information collected by the spacecraft, such as measurements of interstellar space, data on cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and other relevant observations. Scientists would eagerly study this data to deepen our understanding of the outer reaches of our solar system and interstellar space.
Mission status: Contacting a spacecraft that has been traveling for decades would also allow us to assess the probe's current status. We could gather information on the health of its systems, the condition of its instruments, and the remaining power supply. This knowledge would help us better understand the long-term durability and performance of our deep-space probes.
Human achievement: Making contact with a spacecraft beyond our solar system would represent a tremendous accomplishment for human exploration and technology. It would demonstrate our ability to reach out and communicate across immense cosmic distances, further expanding our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
It's important to note that neither of the Voyager spacecraft has reached interstellar space. Voyager 1 is currently in the heliosheath, the outer region of the Sun's influence, while Voyager 2 is in the heliosphere, the region of space influenced by the Sun.