Voyager I, time traveler

Now we know for sure. The solar system is big. Really big.

NASA confirmed it today with the announcement that the Voyager I spacecraft has finally left it. It’s now in the “vast, cold emptiness between the stars,” the space agency said. The next time it reaches a star will be tens of thousands of years from now.

It was a long trip from Terra Firma. How long?

When it was launched:

Pete Rose still had nine seasons left in his career, and was a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.

Associated Press/Rusty Kennedy

The Panama Canal still belonged to the United States

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He was in his first year in office.

Associated Press

So was he.

Rudy Perpich

He was a month away from the start of an uprising that would depose him.

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One of these would mail a first-class letter:

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He was still five days away from “jumping the shark.”

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We were still two years away from being able to use our new 300 baud modems to access this…

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It was seven years before this upstart would challenge the market.

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Virginia Wade was winning Wimbledon…

Associated Press

The Vikings were in a Super Bowl, setting a record for the most losses.

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And she had just turned 16, and hadn’t met her prince.

Associated Press