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Voyager: To the Final Frontier

Documentary telling the story of the Voyager space mission, as the two spacecraft leave the area of the sun's influence after 35 years and 11 billion miles.

This is the story of the most extraordinary journey in human exploration, the Voyager space mission. In 1977 two unmanned spacecraft were launched by NASA, heading for distant worlds. It would be the first time any man-made object would ever visit the farthest planets of the solar system - Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. On the way the Voyagers would be bombarded by space dust, fried by radiation and discover many of the remarkable wonders of the solar system.

Now, at the end of 2012, 35 years and 11 billion miles later, they are leaving the area of the sun's influence. As they journey out into the galaxy beyond they carry a message from Earth, a golden record bolted to the side of each craft describing our civilisation in case of discovery by another. This is the definitive account of the most intrepid explorers in Earth's history.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 15 Jan 2018 03:00
BBC Four

Clips

See all clips from Voyager: To the Final Frontier (3)

The Golden Record

The Golden Record

The only two copies ever made are bolted to Voyagers 1 and 2, but you can listen to their sounds and messages online, including greetings from the people of Earth in 55 languages.

Jupiter

Jupiter

Voyager 1 peers into Jupiter's Great Red Spot on 25 February 1979.

Saturn

Saturn

Saturn and its rings snapped by Voyager 2 on 21 July 1981.

Uranus

Uranus

Voyager 2 took this parting shot of the crescent Uranus on 25 January 1986.

 

Big Science Season

Big Science Season

Voyager: To the Final Frontier is part of the BBC Four Big Science Season. Discover the other programmes in the season below…

Seven Ages of Starlight: A "stunning journey" through the life and times of stars.

Order and Disorder: A two-part series presented by Professor Jim Al-Khalili which tells the story of how humanity mastered the two most important concepts of the modern age - energy and information.

The Final Frontier? A Horizon Guide to the Universe: An in-depth look at science's quest to understand the mysteries of the Universe.

Tails You Win: The Science of Chance: Professor David Spiegelhalter tries to pin down what chance is, revealing how it works in the real world.

Neptune

Neptune

Voyager 2 made its closest approach to this beautiful blue planet on 25 August 1989.

Credits

Producer Chris Riley
Director Chris Riley
Executive Producer Mark Hedgecoe

Broadcasts

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  • Space on BBC Four

    Programmes about space travel, our Solar System and the Universe.

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