Then:
At the time
of their launch in 1977, the mission of the twin space probes, Voyager
1 and Voyager 2, was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. However, after
such amazing discoveries as active volcanoes on Io, one of Jupiter's moons,
and the complexities of Saturn's rings, their mission was extended to
include visits to Uranus and Neptune.
...
but Keeps on Tickin' !
Now: The
twin spacecraft are currently celebrating their 27th birthday as they
travel farther away from Earth and the Sun. In fact, Voyager 1 is now
the most distant man-made object from the Sun. The spacecraft are nearing
the heliopause, the region where the Sun's dominance ends and interstellar
space begins. As they speed through space at 38,000 miles per hour, both
probes are still sending scientific information back to Earth.
