3 ms·
The capability to dig such a weak signal out of the noise is, indeed, a remarkable feat. I also think the ability to orient the spacecraft to point the antenna
by sizzzzlerz 8y ago
The capability to dig such a weak signal out of the noise is, indeed, a remarkable feat. I also think the ability to orient the spacecraft to point the antenna at where the earth is from a distance of a couple billion miles is pretty amazing. Obviously, a signal is going to spread a great deal over those distances but its still important to be close. I'd be curious to know how far off the pointing is from Voyager distance from boresight.
- sizzzzlerz 8y agoActually, thinking about this, I made a mistake. Voyager isn't pointing its antenna at earth at that instant. It's actually pointing it to where the earth WILL be in 16 to 20 hours. Technically, that is probably no more difficult but my statement is more accurate.
- planteen 8y agoFound this saying Voyager has a pointing accuracy of 0.1 degrees: https://www.quora.com/How-precise-are-spacecrafts-like-New-Horizons-Voyager-I-and-Voyager-II-able-to-point-their-antenna-towards-Earth https://www.quora.com/How-precise-are-spacecrafts-like-New-H... From the distance of Voyager, I doubt it makes any difference where Earth is for pointing the antenna. As in, it is pointing to the same spot no matter the day or season. They probably dial in an inertial coordinate and that is it.