Her suggestion knocked back, Porco instead submitted a proposal in 1985 to have Voyager image the dust bands discovered in data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) from a different angle (outside the asteroid belt). Unbeknownst to Porco, both she and the late Dr Carl Sagan, had the same idea, but neither were initially aware of the other's efforts. Speaking to The Register, planetary scientist Dr Carolyn Porco, who became an official member of the Voyager team in October 1983 and would later lead the Cassini imaging team, recalled the challenge in persuading those in charge that such an image was worthwhile. Voyager 1, on the other hand, was leaving the Solar System on a course that could allow the probe to turn its imaging platform back toward Earth and capture a 'family portrait' of the Solar System before the cameras were turned off for the final time. Voyager 2 continued on its trajectory to Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989, thanks to forward-thinking scientists and some excellent engineering in the previous decades. Voyager 2 made its Saturn flyby in 1981.įortunately for planetary science, saner heads prevailed and funding continued past the Jupiter and Saturn encounters. Launched in 1977, the probes passed Jupiter in 1979 with Voyager 1 performing a flyby of Saturn and its moon, Titan, in 1980.

The Voyager project, as originally approved, was only going to involve a flyby of the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn after a descoping of NASA's dreams of a Solar System Grand Tour. The Register spoke to the scientists involved, as well as those who might snap a future image.įor all its impact, the iconic image might not have been captured at all were it not for some determined team members. Special report Thirty years ago, the Voyager Project celebrated 14 February not with a card, but with a family portrait of the Solar System, which would give rise to the celebrated 'Pale Blue Dot' concept.

Carl sagan earth picture