This artists rendering provided by NASA shows the Voyager spacecraft. Launched in 1977, the twin spacecraft are exploring the edge of the solar system. Thirty-five years after leaving Earth, Voyager 1 is reaching for the stars. Sooner or later, the workhorse spacecraft will bid adieu to the solar system and enter a new realm of space - the first time a man-made object will have escaped to the other side. (AP Photo/NASA)

NASA: Voyager 1 enters new region of solar system

The Associated Press

First Published Dec 03 2012 01:22 pm • Last Updated Dec 03 2012 01:25 pm

LOS ANGELES • NASA’s long-running Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered a new region at the edge of the solar system and is close to exiting it forever.

Scientists have dubbed this region the "magnetic highway" and it’s the last stop before interstellar space, or the space between stars.

The findings were presented Monday at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

Voyager 1 and its twin Voyager 2 launched 35 years ago on a tour of the outer planets. Afterward, both spacecraft continued to hurtle toward the fringes of the solar system.

Mission chief scientist Ed Stone says it’s unknown when Voyager 1 will finally break through to interstellar space. Once that happens, it’ll be the first manmade object to leave the solar system.

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