IOWA CITY, Iowa [KGAN-TV] – Nearly 47 years ago, two NASA spacecrafts were bound for one of the grandest journeys across our solar system to fly by and learn about our outer gas giants. They launched within a special planetary window, which occurs only once every 176 years. It allows these spacecraft to use the gravitational pull of each planet it flies by to alter its trajectory, allowing them to arrive at the next planet on its path with minimal use of fuel.

The Voyager spacecrafts paved the way for our understanding of our solar system, but it’s now over 15 billion miles away from Earth. It takes light and radio signals about 23 hours to reach it one way, and it is still changing our understanding of the cosmos. The instruments still onboard and operational were built, and are still operated by, the University of Iowa’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. One of them is the Plasma Wave Subsystem, which measures subtle waves within plasma fields around planets and in space.

The instrument has been pivotal in some of our most incredible discoveries in space, including the data set confirming when Voyager entered the interstellar medium beyond our solar system in 2012. It was also instrumental in detecting lightning on another planet for the first time back in the early 80s. Lightning sends off a wide array of electromagnetic waves. Due to the different speeds at which each of these waves travels, it creates an odd, descending whistling tone.

Dr. Bill Kurth, a research scientist at the University of Iowa and a co-investigator of the Voyager Plasma Wave, was part of the initial development of the instrument nearly half a century ago, and continues to monitor data sent back from the aging spacecraft to this day.Of the nearly 10 instruments on board, only four remain. The University of Iowa’s instrument still furthers our understanding of our place in the stars is one of them still in operation.

It’s still uncertain how much longer the voyager probes have left, but predictions show they may make it into the early 2030s. However, they will still be drifting through the vastness of space, likely outliving our own star, the sun, well after they shut down.

You and find more information about the University of Iowa’s involvement in the Voyager missions here or their involvement in a multitude of flagship NASA missions here.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna reports, “Pursuant to Code of Iowa Sec. 50.51, the Secretary of State’s Office has ordered a post-election audit of the November 5, 2024, General Election. The race to be audited will be the
President/Vice President and County Sheriff for each political party for Precinct 6 West Grant Frankfort Scott Twp Coburg Stanton. The polling place location for Precinct 6 is the Stanton Community Building.

“The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will conduct this audit on Friday, November 15, starting at 9:00 a.m. The audit will take place in the old Supervisor’s meeting room on the first floor of the Courthouse, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak. Said proceeding shall be open to the public.”

(Franklin County, Iowa) [updated 12:11-p.m., to include the just released name of the 3rd crash victim] – Three people were injured during an accident Friday evening in northern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 6:20-p.m. Friday, on Interstate 35 south, near mile-marker 162.

Authorities say a 2015 Buick Encore driven by 62-year-old James Coombes, of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, struck a deer in the left southbound lane, before the vehicle pulled into the right southbound lane. The Buick was rear-ended by a 2013 KIA Rio, being driven by 26-year-old Jacob Hernandez, of Mankato, MN.

Following the collision, the KIA came to rest in the median, and the Buick came to rest in the right-hand lane on I-35 southbound. Both drivers and a passenger in the KIA, 26-year-old Katelyn Redmond, of Mankato, suffered serious injuries. Coombes was transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Redmond and Hernandez were taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Mason City.

All three were wearing their seat belts.