Dr Garry Hunt talks to us about the astonishing Voyager probes

A podcast with a Voyager team member

The Register's Kettle podcast talked with Dr. Garry Hunt. He was one of the scientists on the Voyager imaging team. The team took the photos that the probes sent back. In the episode, he shares his role in the mission and what might come next for it.

Key facts

• The Voyager probes launched from Earth nearly 50 years ago.
• The imaging team had eight members, chosen from scientists around the world.
• Dr. Hunt is the only UK member of the team.
• The probes are now a light day's distance from Earth, according to the episode description.

Why Voyager was sent

Dr. Hunt explains that the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) line up in a rare way about every 176 years. This lined-up timing let the spacecraft reach them faster and with less fuel. NASA paid for two spacecraft to go in the late 1970s. Scientists hoped the planets would help explain how the solar system formed and how life might have started.

Why it matters

Voyager showed people the outer planets for the first time. Its famous photos, such as the Pale Blue Dot, still shape how people see Earth and space. The mission is also a good example of how a team of real scientists can gather detailed data about faraway worlds.

What to watch

• Listen to the full episode on The Register's Kettle podcast, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
• Watch for more about the future of the Voyager mission.
• Watch for the mission's 50-year anniversary next year.