NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft may soon enter interstellar space

NASA Voyager 2 has detected an increase in cosmic rays from outside this solar system.

Launched in 1977, the space probe is less than 11 billion kilometers from Earth, more than 118 times the distance from our globe to the Sun.

Since 2007, it crosses the outermost layer of the heliosphere, the vast bubble surrounding the sun and planets, dominated by solar material and magnetic fields.

Now, Voyager 2 seems to reach the outer limit of the heliosphere, called heliopause. Once out of the region, it will become the second human-made object, after its twin Voyager 1, to enter interstellar space.

Researchers can at best measure its progress through the study of cosmic rays, rapidly moving particles that come from the solar system.

Some are stranded by the heliosphere, so mission planners expect Voyager 2 to measure the increase in the rate of beams bouncing off the spacecraft while at the same time. he approaches and crosses the border.

This is exactly what has been happening for more than a month: the Cosmic Radiation Integrated Subsystem has recorded a 5% increase since the beginning of August. For its part, the low energy charged particle instrument of the probe has detected a similar increase in high energy cosmic rays.

"We are observing a change of environment around Voyager 2, no doubt," said project scientist Ed Stone in a statement. "We will learn a lot in the months to come, but we still do not know when we will hit the heliopause.

"We're not there yet, it's something I can say with confidence," added Stone.

In May 2012, Voyager 1 experienced an increase in the rate of cosmic rays, which should look like what his brother or sister is experiencing. But it was about three months before Voyager 1 actually enters interstellar space.

There is no guarantee that Voyager 2, which is in a different location from Voyager 1 in the heliosheath (the outer region of the heliosphere), will soon reach the same milestone. Possible differences in locations mean possible differences in exit schedules.

The six-year gap between the departure of each probe is also important, according to NASA, as the heliopause moves during the eleven-year solar activity cycle.

The earthlings can finally listen to the Voyager Golden Record, for $ 98. NASA, meanwhile, is looking for exoplanets and exomoons. Follow all things from the space here.