Why It's Impossible to Reach Neptune
Today in the Space World
54,334 views
In August 1989, Voyager 2 flew just 4,950 km (3,000 miles) above Neptune's clouds, saw a world of supersonic winds, vanishing storms and a moon orbiting backwards, and then it was gone. Thirty-seven years later, nothing has returned.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 The Last Visit
1:12 The Distance That Deceives
4:13 The Alignment That Won't Return
7:16 Arriving Is Not Stopping
9:05 Darkness and Silence
11:07 The World That Waits
📚 SOURCES
NASA / JPL – Voyager 2 Neptune encounter
NASA – Trident mission proposal
The Planetary Society – Neptune Odyssey
Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023–2032
PDS Ring-Moon Systems Node – Voyager Mission Description
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#Neptune #Voyager2 #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #Astronomy
20 Comments
Now, wildly impractical? Sure.
Something the public would have no tolerance for? Sure.
But as a technical matter, with sufficient time to build the ship bit-by-bit in orbit around Earth, and with sufficient "acceptable losses" mindset, many things are technically possible.
[proceeds to explain multiple ways of reaching Neptune]
Why It's Impossible to Reach Neptune
Today in the Space World
54,334 views
In August 1989, Voyager 2 flew just 4,950 km (3,000 miles) above Neptune's clouds, saw a world of supersonic winds, vanishing storms and a moon orbiting backwards, and then it was gone. Thirty-seven years later, nothing has returned.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 The Last Visit
1:12 The Distance That Deceives
4:13 The Alignment That Won't Return
7:16 Arriving Is Not Stopping
9:05 Darkness and Silence
11:07 The World That Waits
📚 SOURCES
NASA / JPL – Voyager 2 Neptune encounter
NASA – Trident mission proposal
The Planetary Society – Neptune Odyssey
Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023–2032
PDS Ring-Moon Systems Node – Voyager Mission Description
Subscribe for more journeys to the edge of what we know.
#Neptune #Voyager2 #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #Astronomy