model 1 voyager

Unagi Model One Voyager review

The same sleek looks, but improved internals in one of the best electric scooters.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Unagi Model One Voyager has twice the range of the original Unagi, along with a few other niceties such as a remote lock. And it’s still one of the sexiest scooters around.

Elegant, practical design

Very good range

Fast acceleration

Large, clear display

Rubber tires make for a rough ride

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• Price and availability
• Voyager vs. Classic
• Performance
• Range and battery life

When the Unagi Model One made its debut, it was an impressive scooter not just for its design, but its capabilities. Not only did it look amazing, but it was very light, yet powerful for its size. So how do you improve on one of the best electric scooters ? 

The Unagi Model One ’s successor, the Model One Voyager, doesn’t make too many radical changes, but nearly doubles the range of the original, and adds some new features, such as a Bluetooth locking mechanism. And it does so while keeping the weight nearly the same, too. Read the rest of my Unagi Model One Voyager review to see if this is the best electric scooter for that last-mile ride. 

Unagi Model One Voyager review: Price and availability

The Model One Voyager was initially available to order as of April 1, 2023, and was originally scheduled to ship at the end of that month; however, it's been delayed by nearly a year, and now is expected to ship in March 2024.

It will be available in four colors (Deep Cobalt, Cool Mist, Matte Black, and Latte) and retail for $1,490. 

If you want to get it sooner, Unagi offers a subscription plan, whereby you can pay $69 per month plus a one-time $119 setup fee. You can also get theft protection for an extra $5/month. 

The Model One Classic (formerly known as the Model One E500) is now only offered on a subscription basis for $39/month. 

Unagi Model One Voyager vs. Unagi Model One Classic

The biggest difference between the Unagi Model One Classic and Voyager comes down to range: the Voyager has about twice the range as the Classic. In addition, the Voyager is a bit more capable when going up hills and, as we’ll discuss later, it also connects to an app that adds a few more features.

Unagi Model One Voyager review: Design

There’s almost no difference between the Voyager and the Classic Unagi Model One. Side by side, they’re practically identical. And that’s a good thing: even though it’s been on the market for around five years, there has yet to be a scooter that looks as sleek as the Unagi. 

The Voyager’s downtube is made of the same carbon fiber, and has a unique pyramidal shape that’s thinnest in the middle, and flares out at both ends. Not only is it elegant, but it also makes the Voyager very easy to carry when folded.

A large black and white LED display between the handlebars displays your speed, distance traveled, battery life, and if you’re using one or both of the scooter’s motors. On the left side is a push lever for the brakes, and on the right is the throttle.

As should be expected of a scooter at this price, the Voyager has a headlight and a tail light; the latter remains on all the time, and flashes when you hit the brakes, which is a feature I like. The headlight — two LEDS — serves up a nice large bright beam that hits the ground about 15 feet in front of the scooter, which gave me ample time to see and avoid potential obstacles.

One of the best design elements of the Voyager — really, of any scooter I’ve tested — is the downtube’s folding and locking mechanism. Simply pull down on two tabs, and the downtube folds down and locks into place; no extra latches or hooks here.

Unagi Model One Voyager review: Performance

The Model One Voyager was every bit as speedy and responsive as the original. On my test hill, which has a 6 percent grade, the Voyager sped up it at around 11 miles per hour, the same as the Model One Classic. 

When you first unbox the Voyager, you can select from three speed modes, which limit the top speed to 9, 12, and 15 miles per hour, respectively. A special code unlocks the Voyager’s top speed to 20 MPH (turn the scooter on, press and hold both the brake and accelerator, and then press the power button 10 times quickly. You should hear a few beeps from the scooter). Then you’ll really fly.

My two main issues with the Voyager are the same as the original. Its rubber wheels and lack of any sort of shock absorption make for a pretty rough ride. A tubeless air-filled tire would go a long way here.

The other quibble is that the Voyager’s electronic horn is pretty feeble. When I was riding it in Manhattan, I could barely hear it over the din of the city traffic. It needs something louder to alert others in front of you.

Unagi Model One Voyager review: Range and battery life

Unagi advertises the Voyager as having a range of between 12 and 25 miles, depending on the weight of the rider, the terrain, and other factors. That range is double the Unagi Classic (7-12 miles), though it should be noted that when the Classic first came out, Unagi said it had a 15-mile range. 

I’ve found with every scooter I’ve tested that the range estimates are very optimistic, especially for a rider such as myself who weighs closer to 200 pounds than he’d like to admit. I also live in a fairly hilly area, which further decreases the range.

On the Voyager, I was able to get just about 12 miles out of the scooter before the battery died. When the battery gets to about 10 percent remaining, the scooter starts beeping intermittently. When the battery drops to 5 percent, the beeping gets more persistent, and the Voyager’s top speed drops, so as to eke out as much range as possible.

The Voyager also can be charged up completely in three hours, half the time it takes the Model One Classic.

Unagi Model One Voyager review: App

Another difference between the Voyager and the Classic is that the Voyager can be paired with an app via Bluetooth, which lets you change some settings, such as the max speed, whether you want to use one motor or two, and turn on the headlight. 

The app also provides an estimate of how many miles you can go before the battery dies; however, you need to enter your weight into the app to get an accurate estimate. Also, the app has a remote lock feature, which is a nice anti-theft measure — not that you shouldn’t also lock up the scooter.

Unagi Model One Voyager review: Verdict

Unagi originally planned to follow up the Model One with the Model Eleven, which was going to cost around $2,400 and have such features as automated driver assistance, a Bluetooth speaker, GPS tracking, and a swappable battery. However, that proved overly ambitious. Instead, it has come out with something a bit more practical (and affordable) with the Model One Voyager — if you consider $1,500 affordable. 

Among the best electric scooters , it's worth checking out the Hiboy S2 , which is a third of the price; it doesn't have the range of the Unagi, but it should suffice for many. In the same price range as the Unagi is the Niu Kqi Air ( $1,399, Best Buy ), which weighs the same as the Voayger, but has an even better 31-mile range. 

The Voyager is a nice step up from the original, and while I wish it had different tires and a beefier horn, it’s still the best scooter for those who need a last-mile transport to get them from a train or bus to their office or home. And it looks really awesome, too.

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.

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Unagi’s new electric scooter adds more range to woo more commuters

Unagi is all in on subscriptions — and maximizing range.

By David Pierce , editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

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Unagi, the electric scooter maker behind one of the better micromobilty vehicles on the market right now, has a new model ready for you. It’s called the Model One Voyager, and it’s meant to last longer, ride more smoothly, and be easier to use. The only thing is: Unagi doesn’t really want you to buy one. It would much rather you subscribe to one.

David Hyman, Unagi’s CEO, is absolutely convinced that subscription is the future of scooters. Not plunking down $1,000 for one and definitely not a ride-sharing one. “It was a total fluke that electric scooters started through ride-sharing,” he says over Zoom from his California home. Bird, Lime, and the rest got people used to the idea that a scooter could be a useful vehicle for getting around, but “you’ve got to wake up, hunt, and peck for one, usually the first or second or third ones are broken, or the batteries are dead.” Buying one solves most of those problems — “it’s like your own magic carpet,” Hyman says — but comes with its own downsides. Namely, scooters are expensive and often pretty flimsy. Plus, where do you put it when you get to the restaurant?

For the last few years, Unagi has experimented with an in-between model: users pay about $50 a month to get their own Unagi Model One scooter, but Unagi handles all the maintenance and even replaces the scooter if it’s broken or stolen. Hyman compares the model to Netflix’s DVD-by-mail system — it’s stuff as a service. 

The subscription model is working for Unagi to the point where Hyman is pivoting the company around it. Already, he says, 20 people sign up for an Unagi subscription for every one who buys a scooter outright, and the company has “tens of thousands” of active scooter subscribers. Now, Unagi is launching the Voyager to try to get even more riders on board and is killing its most ambitious project ever because it doesn’t fit the model anymore. At least as far as Unagi is concerned, scooters as a service is the future of micromobility.

I’ve been an Unagi subscriber for the last few months after some back-of-the-napkin math made it clear that even my occasional rides to train stations and grocery stores were adding up to more than $50 a month. (Many of the scooter-share companies have jacked up their prices considerably over the last couple of years to make up for VC funding drying up and an early pandemic downturn.) It’s definitely less convenient since I can’t just dump my scooter on the street when I’m done with it, but knowing there’s one always available has made me trust the scooter system much more.

I now ride mine almost every day: to pick up takeout dinner, to grab a quick coffee between meetings, to hop on the subway to get to the office. Luckily, I live in a town with great roads and respectful traffic and only occasionally have to brave the truly mean streets of Washington, DC.  

I’m still on the standard Model One, but I might be due for an upgrade. Unagi’s new scooter, the Model One Voyager, was built to solve one very specific problem: range. The number one reason people return their Unagis and cancel their subscriptions, Hyman says, is because the Model One’s advertised 15.5-mile range just isn’t enough. The Voyager, in comparison, is rated to last a full 25 miles on a charge, which is far more than most scooters can claim. “We’ve taken range off the table,” Hyman says. In exchange, the Voyager is slightly heavier — at 29.6 pounds, it’s just over a pound heavier than the Model One — but it’s still among the lighter models in its category. 

The Voyager also has more torque and higher peak power, charges slightly faster, and comes in a couple of new colors, including one that Hyman himself describes as Unagi’s “bougiest” color yet: a white scooter with brown accents that the company calls Latte. (It was almost creme brulee, he says, but that was a step too far.) There’s nothing game-changing in the new model — which I suppose is why it’s not called the Model Two — but it should make everyday use a little more pleasant.

There’s nothing game-changing in the new model, but it should make everyday use a little more pleasant

Unagi is also upgrading the smarts inside its scooters. The Voyager’s onboard display has been simplified and upgraded to make settings easier to find, and it also now connects to an Unagi app over Bluetooth. You can use the app to toggle your headlights, see how much you’ve ridden and how much battery remains, plus get information about maintenance issues and your subscription. The app isn’t meant to replace the functionality on the scooter itself, Hyman says, just give you another way to access it. 

The Voyager’s new display and connectivity are also compatible with the original Model One. Part of Unagi’s subscription system involves refurbishing returned scooters and sending them out to new users, and from now on, Hyman says the company will drop in the new parts when a Model One comes back. The whole process costs $15 a scooter.

A subscription Voyager will run you $67 a month, which is $12 more than the Model One’s $55 monthly hit. You might notice even the Model One is more expensive than it used to be, sort of — the subscription itself was previously $49, and for another $5 a month, you could get theft insurance. Just about everyone ponied up the extra $5, Hyman tells me, so Unagi just decided to bake it into the base price. (Where that last dollar a month went, though, he wouldn’t say.)

You’ll be able to start your subscription through Unagi’s website, but the company’s also going to start selling scooters in Best Buy — and Hyman hints there are other brick-and-mortar partnerships to come. It’s the same theory as rideshare: the first step is just getting people to think about scooters at all, and once they do, they’re often sold.

The scooter Unagi is shipping next is more practical but vastly less ambitious than the one it has decided not to ship at all. Last fall, the company revealed Model Eleven , a $2,490 vehicle that used a multi-lens camera system to help riders avoid crashes, was created with a new material called “long carbon,” and could do turn-by-turn audio directions. It was meant to be the Tesla Roadster of scooters, with a price tag to match. 

The Model Eleven raised more than $700,000 on Indiegogo, but Unagi recently canceled the project. Hyman calls it “one of the hardest, most emotionally challenging business decisions I’ve ever made” after years of work and millions of dollars spent on its development. In the long run, Hyman says he hopes the Model Eleven’s features will appear in other Unagi devices, but it just didn’t make sense for the business anymore. Unagi is offering backers a full refund, two Voyagers, or a three-year subscription to a Voyager as compensation.

Ultimately, there will be lots of different kinds of these vehicles, probably including impossibly expensive and massively powerful scooters. Research from McKinsey and others has found that the micromobility market is growing almost any way you slice it: new vehicles, new riders, new cities, and new business models.

There won’t just be one winner, either. “If you truly want to get rid of your car and live micromobility only, or micromobility plus car sharing if you’ll do a trip outside the city, it’s going to be a combination of form factors,” McKinsey partner Kersten Heineke said recently . Hyman, too, is quick to point out that companies like Rad Power Bikes are doing cool work in the space. But he seems to still think he’s going to win in the end.

During our conversations, Hyman mentions a few times how hard it was to get the subscription service up and running. Maintenance teams, customer support services, quick shipping — it might not be as expensive as setting up fleets of chargers and mechanics in every city the way Bird and Lime have, but it hasn’t been easy. Going forward, though, he’s convinced Unagi is set up for the way people want to live with their scooters. And he’s convinced Unagi still makes the best ones.

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electric scooter

Unagi model one voyager review: what makes this luxury e-scooter so special.

If the term “luxury scooter” sounds odd to you, then you must have never seen an Unagi before. These scooters buck the trend of massive, bulky, and clunky-looking e-scooters to instead offer something much more elegant and refined. The new Unagi Model One Voyager electric scooter maintains the classy looks we’ve come to expect from Unagi, yet packs in better performance for an even more impressive ride.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a big and powerful scooter as much as the next guy. But I’ve yet to see a powerful scooter that didn’t look like a blacked-out tactical piece of gear that a SWAT team would use if a hostage situation called for e-scooters.

For anyone who wants to get up to faster speeds than most budget scooters but doesn’t want to look like you’re riding a chunky, clunky Erector Set scooter, then the Unagi Model One Voyager very well may be for you.

It has its faults, but it’s an awesome scooter for riders seeking a slick design that doesn’t skimp on the performance.

See what I mean in my video review below, then keep reading for even more details on this awesome new electric scooter.

Unagi Model One Voyager video review

Unagi Model One Tech Specs

• Motors : Dual 250W continuous motors (each motor peaks at 500W)
• Battery : 36V 10Ah (360Wh)
• Top speed : 20 mph (32 km/h)
• Range : 12-25 miles (20-40 km)
• Weight : 29.6 lb. (13.4 kg)
• Frame : Aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber
• Load capacity : 220 lb (100 kg)
• Brakes : Front and rear regenerative brakes, rear stomp brake
• Tires : 7.5″ hollow void air-less tires
• Lights : Front and rear LED
• Price : $1,190 (or $69 per month subscription)

What makes it so special?

Unlike bulkier electric scooters, the Unagi Model One Voyager weighs in at a petite 29.6 lb. (13.4 kg). And having carried it around myself, I can tell you that it feels even lighter than that.

The gently sloping curves of the carbon fiber stem make it comfortable in the hand too, which likely contributes to it feeling even lighter than it is when carrying the scooter.

The lightweight design is helped by the exotic material choice. Sure, there’s an aluminum deck for strength. But the carbon fiber stem is topped with a magnesium handlebar that is machined to fit that unique display and houses built-in buttons as well as dual throttle/brake thumb paddles.

Even smaller features like the kickstand are slickly designed to add to the overall classy feeling of the scooter. Most other e-scooters have afterthought kickstands that are purely function with seemingly little thought to form. But the Unagi’s kickstand actually looks like it matches the scooter. If all you care about is getting to your destination, a fancy scooter and matching kickstand will mean nothing to you. But if you want your ride to look good on the way, then small details like this really add up.

Compared to the previous Unagi Model One electric scooter, the new Voyager gets several upgrades. Perhaps the most important is the new battery pack. It’s now a larger 360Wh battery at a higher voltage of 36V.

That new battery powers the dual 500W peak-rated motors up to 20 mph (32 km/h), and for between 12 to 25 miles (20 to 40 km) of range, depending on how fast and hard you ride.

There’s even a new app interface for interacting with the scooter, which anyone who appreciates the techier side of EVs will enjoy.

Other features that we saw on previous Unagi versions still remain here on the Voyager, including the super slick one-button folding mechanism that is likely the easiest scooter folding setup I’ve ever seen, plus the highly effective dual wheel motoring braking. In fact, I almost never use the rear stomp brake since the motor braking is plenty for basically every braking scenario.

What about the downsides?

The Unagi Model One Voyager electric scooter is a poetic masterclass of engineering design, but it isn’t without its faults. The downside of such a sleek and elegant scooter is that it isn’t as robust as larger models. This lightweight ride is rated for riders up to 220 lb. (100 kg), which will fit the majority of us but still precludes more riders than many other larger e-scooters.

The smaller wheels and lack of suspension also mean the ride is a bit rougher on less than perfect roads. When I’m on a smooth road, the honeycomb-style tires absorb the slight road vibrations well. But on pavers, brick paths, or anything with repeating patterns, the lack of suspension in noticeable on those smaller 7.5″ tires. I find myself needing to stay soft in the knees when I see rough patches ahead.

Of course the flip side of that coin is that you’ll never get a flat tire due to the airless tire design. So if you mainly commute on fairly nice paths and bike lines, this may be a compromise that you’ll gladly make.

And lastly, the scooter is so good-looking that I’m super worried about scratching it or damaging it. It seems well made like I can toss it around, but that doesn’t mean that each scratch won’t hurt me more than on an ugly scooter. And pretty scooters are probably theft magnets, but at least the Unagi is so light that it’s easy to carry in with you so you’re not tempted to lock it outside very often.

Is it worth the price?

At $1,190 , this is not a cheap scooter. You can get these performance specs for significantly less dough from a number of manufacturers. No one is going to buy an Unagi because it’s a “deal.” That’d be silly. They’re going to buy it because it looks good and is convenient to use.

Few scooters can match its performance-to-pound ratio. And no other scooters can match its style points.

The fact that it even includes “typical” scooter features like headlights and brake/tail lights, horn, stomp brake, and other features is just icing on the cake for anyone looking for a sexier scooter than you’ll find on the typical Amazon bestselling scooter list.

So if you’re shopping on a budget, this is probably not the scooter for you. But if you’ve got a bit more cash to toss around and you want something special, it’s hard to find any scooters more unique than the Unagi Model One Voyager. It doesn’t just look good, it also performs well. You’ll just have to pay up for that elusive combination.

Or if you don’t want to pay in full, you may be able to take advantage of Unagi’s subscription service too. It starts from $69 per month, includes free shipping, and takes care of all the service for you. Not too shabby for a luxury electric scooter!

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Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries , DIY Solar Power,   The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide  and The Electric Bike Manifesto .

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0 , the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2 , the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission , and the $3,299 Priority Current . But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at [email protected], or find him on Twitter , Instagram , or TikTok .

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Unagi Model One Voyager review: just as stunning but now longer-lasting

Sadly, it comes with the same flaws as well.

TechRadar Verdict

With a longer range and faster charging time, the Unagi Model One Voyager comes with welcome upgrades. Unfortunately, they aren’t the ones the Unagi line sorely needs.

Sleek, lightweight, attractive

Smooth ride on smooth roads

Easy to set up, intuitive to use

Longer range than the Classic

Faster charging

Same solid wheels that are not best for rough roads

Even more expensive than the Classic

Foot brake isn’t the best

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

• Two-minute review
• Price & availability
• Should you buy it?
• Also consider
• How I tested

Unagi Model One Voyager: Two-minute review

The Unagi Model One Voyager follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. Now bearing the moniker “Classic,” the Unagi Model One has established itself as one of the best electric scooters on the market for its sleek and sexy look, lightweight and modern minimalist design, and effortless use. However, it’s plagued with 7.5-inch solid tires that are only really ideal if you live in a city with immaculate roads. Anywhere else, which is pretty much everywhere, they’re a literal headache to ride on.

Unfortunately, the Model One Voyager has inherited that same curse. There are some welcome improvements here, of course. It now has a longer range, faster charging time, more torque, and mobile app support, all of which are welcome upgrades. But where the upgrades would have mattered – better shock absorption, for one – there aren’t any. 

And so having the ability to ride this for up to 25 miles (as opposed to the original’s 15 miles) is for naught – because I wouldn’t want to be riding that long or even half that distance if my whole body, including my brain, is vibrating during a good chunk of it.

That isn’t to diminish the Unagi Model One Voyager’s strengths. I absolutely love its sleek, lightweight, and modern minimalist approach with its thin and elegant yet still very robust stem (apparently made of the same carbon fiber as the Space-X rockets), and its luxurious and stylish handlebar that houses a straightforward dashboard and intuitive controls. 

Overall, it’s simply a stunner, and it comes in four different colors as well – Cobalt Blue, Cool Mist, Matte Black, and Latte – making it stand out even more in a sea of black e-scooters and among the best electric scooters for students (or at least for students whose parents can afford to splurge over $1,000/£1,000 on an e-scooter for them).

It’s a great example of when design meets function, and riding on this electric scooter feels like you’re doing so in the future, circa 2049.

There’s a long list of thoughtful details as well that make it an e-scooter of the future. The folding mechanism, for one, is one of the easiest to operate that I’ve seen. You simply fold down the lever and pull the stem down. It automatically locks itself securely in place without any fasteners you’d have to hook yourself, and unfolding is just as easy.

More to that point, the deck is thin but somehow spacious enough for average-sized adults to stand comfortably on. And the rubber top does a fantastic job of preventing accidental slips. 

Meanwhile, both the brake and the throttle, identical-looking, are levers – which I find easier to handle and less fatiguing. As for the physical controls, there is a separate riding mode button within easy reach so you can effortlessly change modes and speed up when necessary. And finally, the dashboard is decently visible in daylight, so you won’t have to squint when checking your speed and other settings during a ride.

I just wish they had improved on that kickstand. It’s still too short to keep the e-scooter stable at rest. I’ve lost count of how many times mine has toppled over from the slightest pressure.

Physically, the Model One Voyager looks every bit like the Model One Classic, which is all well and good. No one needs to reinvent the wheel – unless, of course, the wheels just aren’t cutting it, which is the case here. It also inherits the Classic’s 7.5-inch solid tires, which to their credit, are puncture-proof due to their nature. 

However, due to that very nature as well as their size, they’re just not the best at absorbing shocks. In fact, while Unagi tries to fix that by installing “air pockets” on them to act as the suspension system, shock absorption on this is practically non-existent.

As a result, riding the Unagi Model One Voyager on anything other than nicely-paved roads will give you a headache. If you were to ride this e-scooter in Singapore or Switzerland, both of which have top-notch road quality, then you’d have the smoothest rides. Unfortunately, in many e-scooter-friendly cities like Los Angeles, it’s not the most ideal. And I’m not exaggerating about the headache – I rode this thing around my neighborhood and I got a migraine after 10 minutes of riding.

It is, however, nice to have better-performing brakes than the Classic. While the foot brake is not the best, the hand brake is actually very powerful and responsive. Just keep in mind, however, that the brake lever itself doesn’t have a lot of resistance, which means it’s very easy to press it hard. I would do some practice rides first to get used to the brake lever before taking this out on the road.

The throttle is just fantastic. It doesn’t matter what mode you’re on; because this has more torque, it picks up speed quickly so you can get going and be on your way within a fraction of a second. And with a top speed of 20mph, you can get to your destination faster – at least on roads where you can go faster than 15mph.

I would skip riding this on hilly roads, however. Unagi hasn’t listed its hill grade rating, but it struggled to stay above 7mph on a 15-degree hill during my testing. On the plus side, Unagi slaps on a bigger battery, one with fast-charging capabilities. So you’re getting up to 25 miles of ride time and only need about two hours of charging to get to 80%.

That’s certainly a nice improvement. However, I’d rather be charging every night and have smoother rides on my daily commutes than charge less frequently and get a headache every time I’m riding my e-scooter.

Unagi Model One Voyager: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $1,490 (about £1,200 / AU$2,350)
• When is it available? Ships in March 2024
• Where can you get it? Available for pre-order in the US

The Unagi Model One Voyager won’t be making anyone’s best budget electric scooters list anytime soon. If you think the Classic was expensive, get a load of the price tag on this. It’ll set you back a whopping $1,490 (about £1,200 / AU$2,350), which is a massive jump from the Classic’s $990 / £899 / ‎AU$1,299 release price – hardly justifiable, even if you’re getting a bit more power and a better battery.

If you’re seeking something more affordable, consider the Levy Plus ($749 / £560 / AU$1,095) or the NIU KQi3 Pro ($799 / £699 / ‎AU$1,279), both of which are fantastic alternatives.

If you want the Unagi Model One Voyager and are willing to shell out that much money, it’s available now in the US for pre-order. Unagi won’t start shipping units out until March 2024, according to its website. And it’s not currently available for pre-order in the UK and Australia.

• Value: 3 / 5

Unagi Model One Voyager: Specs

Should you buy the Unagi Model One Voyager?

Buy it if....

You want something stylish and very lightweight There’s no denying that the Unagi Model One Voyager is one of the sexiest e-scooters on the market. And it’s incredibly lightweight as well, making it easy to store or carry.

You’ve got deep pockets That style and those upgrades come at a cost. It’s even pricier than the Model One Classic, putting it out of reach for budget-minded consumers.

You live in a city with excellent road quality If the city or town you live in has the smoothest, best quality roads, this is the e-scooter to get. Otherwise, you’re better off looking for other options, many of which are much more affordable too.

Don't buy it if...

You want a smooth yet affordable ride It’s expensive and its 7.5-inch solid tires are not best for rougher roads. Don’t worry; there are plenty of other options that will suit your needs and budget.

Unagi Model One Voyager: Also consider

Levy Plus This is a fantastic and affordable city commuter that can handle rough roads. It’s sleek, portable, and minimalist but fitted with fat tires for much smoother rides.

Read our full <a href="https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/levy-plus-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> Levy Plus review

NIU KQi3 Pro It may be bigger and heavier, but it has a powerful motor and fat tires, plus anti-theft, a longer range of 31 miles, and a top speed of 20mph.

Read our full <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/niu-kqi3-pro" data-link-merchant="techradar.com""> NIU KQi3 Pro review

How I tested the Unagi Model One Voyager

• Spent a couple of weeks testing the Unagi Model One Voyager
• Rode it on paved paths as well as rougher trails and hilly roads
• Tested its performance and features in real-world scenarios

With LA being an e-scooter-friendly city, I regularly used the Unagi Model One Voyager to run errands and for rides around the neighborhoods for a couple of weeks.

I rode it up and down a hill, testing its brakes in the process, and on rougher roads, seeing if its tires are able to offer enough traction and how good (or bad) its ability is to absorb shock. I also tested its battery life as well. And, while there aren't a lot of features here, I made sure to test the basic ones that it does offer. 

I've been a regular electric scooter user for years and have tested and reviewed many of the top models on the market for different publications, including TechRadar and T3.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2023

Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives. 

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Review: Unagi Model One Voyager

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I've had a lot of fun testing Unagi's new electric scooter, the Model One Voyager , a follow-up to the company's original Model One from 2019. Most of the electric scooters I end up testing are bulky and large , so it's always refreshing when something superlight arrives that I can carry down my narrow flight of stairs without breaking a sweat.

Seriously, the Model One Voyager feels pocketable . It's so easy to operate, fold down, and carry around, that it feels like everyone should have a little Unagi stowed away in a closet for those days when you really don't want to walk 15 minutes to the nearest train station.

Unboxing and setting up the Voyager is simple, and the scooter paired quickly with the Unagi app ( Android , iOS ). It's one of the slickest escooter apps I've ever used, though it's fairly basic. There are no customizable speed settings, and you can't tweak the acceleration or anything like that.

Instead, you can switch between dual motor and single motor, choose a speed setting, turn on the headlight, and lock the scooter. (You can access many of these settings from the scooter's display as well.) I like that you can input your weight and height to get a precise measurement of how many more miles you can ride before the battery depletes. It's definitely more accurate than what it suggested without knowing this information. My only gripe is that it's impossible to figure out how to unpair the scooter when you want to pair it with another device.

The Voyager has a stainless steel hinge at the bottom of the stem you can push down with a click to make it fold. Lower the carbon-fiber tube, and it clicks into place to stay parallel with the deck. It's hands-down the best folding system I've ever used on a scooter, and it's just as easy to unfold. The scooter weighs roughly 30 pounds, so just grab the stem and trot away! It's so lightweight—thanks to a mix of materials including magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber—and since the deck and handlebars aren't too long, they don't snag on rails or bump into walls as you carry it.

As someone who's 6'4", the handlebars are a little low for me, but it's manageable. Don't expect to mount a phone on it though, there's not much space. The scooter's deck is relatively short too, so I couldn't comfortably put one foot behind the other. But the benefit of having such a compact and lightweight vehicle quells these shortcomings. It's much easier to carry it inside a store or coffee shop without the risk of toppling over a milk jug (yes, that happened once ). I was able to put it underneath my seat on the subway, and it took up almost no space when I was going up a crowded elevator. It's just a lot less awkward to maneuver with than most other scooters.

There is a thumb control on each handlebar; the one on the right is for acceleration, and the one on the left is for the brake. Both are responsive, and you can be precise to get the level of acceleration or braking power you need at the moment. I never had issues coming to a quick stop with the dual e-brakes, though you can step down on the rear fender for extra stopping power. (At this price, I still would have expected disc brakes.)

Above these thumb controls are tiny yellow buttons—hit the one on the left and your ears will be treated to what's arguably the most useless horn. It's just … not the kind of blaring sound you want. No one jolts when they hear it (believe me, I've tried it on pedestrians and cars in the bike lane and no one bats an eye). It sounds like the ordinary beeps and boops of a scooter and not a “GET OUT OF THE WAY" alarm. It's easily drowned out by the bustle of the city.

Hit the right button twice to change speed modes. There are three: level one goes up to 9 mph, level two 12 mph, and level three is 15 mph, which is what I used exclusively. If you really want, you can unlock a top speed of 20 mph by pressing and holding a combination of these buttons , but this will just eat at the limited range. (More on this later.)

The Voyager has two 250-watt motors that typically operate at 500 watts but have the potential to ramp up to 1,000 watts at peak power. Press the power button in the center of the dashboard twice to switch between single-motor mode and dual-motor mode. The speed levels don't change, but in dual-motor mode, you're able to take advantage of the extra power to climb slopes at a slightly faster pace and enjoy a more responsive acceleration. It'll take off at a traffic light faster than if you just used single-motor mode. I was surprised that it was able to cruise up the Williamsburg Bridge at 13 to 14 mph, barely breaking its top speed—this little thing packs a surprising amount of power.

Riding the Voyager is akin to sailing on the high seas. When the ocean is calm, it's smooth sailing. But you'll need to brace yourself in the thick of a storm. OK, what I mean by that is when you're on perfectly flat roads, the Voyager offers up a super smooth ride. But anything less will shake you quite a bit, and I am not confident in the scooter's ability to handle a pothole or two. This is largely due to the 7.5-inch solid rubber tires. They'll make you feel all the bumps on the road, though at least you won't have to worry about a flat.

Range is the next pain point, though it's not as poor as I was expecting. In dual-motor mode, I was able to get a little more than 10 miles, even after going up a bridge. Sticking to a single motor doesn't seem to save you that much extra battery life. I did an 8-mile roundtrip with the single motor and another on a different day with the dual motor, and I ended up with roughly 32 percent remaining when I arrived home after both trips.

However, I should point out that I'm a 6'4" 240-pound man riding a scooter that's 30 pounds and rated to carry riders up to 220 pounds. I can see most people easily hitting somewhere between Unagi's claim of 12 to 25 miles, which is pretty solid considering this thing's weight and size.

I propose you treat this scooter as a last-mile option. Ride it to your train station or bus. Take it on public transport. Then hop back on it when you arrive to get to your final destination on time and in style. I had a meeting in midtown and instead of taking two trains, I rode the Voyager from Brooklyn to lower Manhattan so I didn't have to bother with a train transfer. Best of all, the Voyager can fully recharge in three hours, and can even get to 50 percent within an hour. The charger isn't too bulky, so just bring it with you everywhere.

The only nitpick I have about the Model One Voyager is the IP dust- and water-resistance rating . At IPX4, it can handle some light splashes, but that's about it. I don't usually ride in the rain, but it would've been nice to see more improvement in resistance over the 2019 model, especially considering that some competing scooters have IP66 ratings. At least the kickstand and headlamp are pretty great, and the battery is UL-certified.

It's worth noting that you can either buy or rent the Model One Voyager. The MSRP is $1,190, which is pricey for what's on offer. Renting will set you back $69 per month and will also add service in case there are any issues (you also have to add $5 per month for theft insurance, or a one-time $300 security deposit). I prefer to own what I ride outright, but go with whatever works for you financially.

This Unagi is one of the lightest escooters on the market, but it's not the only one you should consider. There's Fluidfreeride's Fluid Mosquito , which is a little more rough around the edges, but it's cheaper, packs more power, and is just as lightweight. The Speedway Mini 4 Pro is more my speed, as it has the range I want while weighing only about 7 pounds more. But neither matches the Model One Voyager in elegance, simplicity, and ease of use, and that might justify the price to some.

Unagi launches the updated Model One Voyager, a subscribable scooter

Unagi is perhaps best known for its Model One and its ( now cancelled ) Model Eleven scooter. Today, the company announced it has a new micromobility transportation tool in the works, the Voyager. It packs significantly more range, power, acceleration and smart mobile app features while keeping the lightweight and portable design of its predecessor. The company is embracing a subscription model to keep prices reasonable.

Unagi throws in the towel on its $700K Model Eleven scooter Indiegogo campaign

Model One Voyager differs from its earlier model in a few important ways. The range goes from 12 to 20 miles, while adding less than a pound of weight. The Voyager also adds a bunch of smartphone features via an app, including scooter status, configuration, app-based locking and account management. The Voyager can deliver up to 1,000 watts of peak power and 32 Nm of torque, a quarter more than the old version. The additional power also gives the new scooter a 25% improvement in acceleration and braking power.

The design of the new scooter is almost identical to the old one, and comes in a few new colors: “Deep Cobalt, Cool Mist, Matte Black and Latte” (all images courtesy of Unagi).

[gallery ids="2399763,2399762,2399761,2399760"]

Perhaps most interestingly, the scooters will be available on a subscription plan, which includes free maintenance and theft insurance.

The Model One Voyager clocks in at $67/month with $50 one-time set-up fee, and no contract. The old version can be had at $55 per month with the same deal otherwise. People who are on the old subscription plan can upgrade for $50 (which covers shipping the two scooters), and the difference in the subscription cost.

“I’m incredibly proud to share that ‘Unagi All-Access’, our no-contract, monthly subscription service is now with tens of thousands of members nationwide,” the company’s CEO David Hyman told TechCrunch. “With increased prices of ridesharing and gasoline, along with many urbanites coming back to the office, commuters are flocking to our extremely cost and time-efficient option.”

Unagi Model One Voyager Review: Would You Subscribe To Ride an E-Scooter?

Unagi’s latest electric scooter, the Model One Voyager, combines convenience and a trusty companion app to make a compelling case for subscription-based electric two-wheelers.

How many subscriptions do you have? As an exercise, before writing this review — which I’m sure you’re already aware is about an e-scooter — I attempted to tally mine. I got to eight, and stopped counting; not because it’s not a worthy exercise, but because a part of me doesn’t even want to know.

Unscientifically, I think if you were to ask most people whether they want or need more subscriptions in their life, the resounding response would be a big, loud, Netflix -addled, “Hell no.”

Yet, it’s 2023, and the people selling things to the people buying things beckon further: Is this a subscription ? Will you, dear consumer, fork out monthly to watch House of Dragon ? How about to get more matches on Hinge ? Will you subscribe to have a chatbot not write your essays? Or to Photoshop the perfect new Fantasy Football avatar? How about to use the key fob on your brand-new Toyota ?

And deep from within that subscription vortex, Unagi , an established purveyor of high-end electric scooters, offers its own proposition: How much money will you pay per month to ride a spiffy electric two-wheeler? I can’t answer that question for you, but I can tell you this — riding Unagi’s Model One Voyager will make you think twice about telling yet another monthly service to shove off.

A premium subscription-based e-scooter with a trusty companion app.

Convenience Is King

As someone who’s thought about and tested a few e-bikes and scooters already, I’ve identified some common obstacles (like in any product category) that tend to rear their annoying heads. For electric scooters, there are factors like range and speed of course, but also UX. Does the stem wobble? Is it easy to fold up and down? How does it handle bumps?

Unagi has taken a clear inventory of that spectrum of scooter gripes and identified, smartly, the common thread: convenience. In a press release, Unagi’s CEO, David Hyman, whittled it down ever further: “With tens of thousands of active monthly scooter members on our platform, we’ve learned that our riders value portability over all other competing features...”

The Model One Voyager isn’t the fastest scooter in the world, and that’s a good thing.

And, you know what? If portability was the goal, Unagi nailed it. Hyman is right, as an urban dweller with limited storage space (a demographic that likely describes a not-insignificant portion of e-scooter owners) I need a two-wheeler to be big enough to withstand the potholes crappy urban infrastructure throws at me in a form factor that allows me to manipulate and store my scooter when I’m not riding it.

A lot of that portability starts with both weight and an easily foldable stem. In the Model One Voyager’s case, the latter factor involves simply pulling a lever near the stem’s base up, folding the stem either up or down depending on whether you’re collapsing it or setting it up, and then ensuring that it clicks into place automatically . That means you don’t even have to clasp the stem to anything after it’s folded, just articulate it to the right position and *click* it’s locked in.

This sounds incredibly simple, maybe even boring, but I guess that’s exactly what I’m trying to say. Collapsing the Model One Voyager is so easy it’s almost mind-blowing.

Folding up the Model One Voyager is incredibly easy. Its one-click design doesn’t require any latching or clamps. Just fold it down and click it in place.

Likewise, the riding experience is equally as smooth. A 12-25-mile range, solid acceleration, and 15-20 mph top speed fall squarely in the spectrum of most commuter scooters, and combine for a pleasant and functional experience.

The Model One Voyager comes with two 500W motors and can be ridden with either one or both activated. From an engineering standpoint, one of the most impressive feats of the Model One Voyager is that Unagi was able to double the scooter’s max range compared to the Classic while still keeping it under 30 pounds.

Collapsing the Model One Voyager is so easy it’s almost mind-blowing.

Aiding the Model One Voyager and its lightness is the scooter’s magnesium top bar, which houses a pleasing interface from which riders can select ride modes, turn the scooter off or on, and get readouts for distance until the battery is dead. Magnesium is the key part here according to Unagi, since it’s 33 percent lighter than aluminum.

Having ridden e-scooters across the spectrum — low-end rental scooters and terrifying fast performance scooters like the Apollo Ghost — I can say the Model One Voyager hits what I consider to be the Goldilocks zone (not too fast, not too slow).

For the Voyager One convenience comes before anything, even sometimes luxury. The scooter, like others in Unagi’s lineup, comes equipped with solid tires as opposed to pneumatic air-filled ones. The downside is that sometimes bumps might feel a bit... bumpier. Air-filled counterparts just have a way of mitigating the inevitable shock of your neglected city infrastructure.

From a convenience standpoint, however, solid tires are hard to beat. Where I’d usually have to vigilantly scan the pavement for shards of glass threatening to ruin my ride, knowing there’s no chance of a flat in my future definitely eased my mind. It’s a tradeoff, for sure, but if convenience is still the top metric, then Unagi is speeding past its goal.

The Unagi App

While hardware always comes first in electric mobility, Unagi was clearly intent on making the Model One Voyager a Flagship (capital F intentional).

In this case, that means imbuing the electric scooter with a few app-based perks that — while not necessary to enjoying your scooter ride — definitely make Unagi’s case for being top tier in terms of e-scooter tech.

Through Unagi’s app, you’re granted access to a few quality-of-life perks, chief among them, a first-of-its-kind battery life percentage and distance-until-dead readout that lets you gauge just how much juice your Voyager battery has left in the tank.

Unagi’s companion app uses Bluetooth to let you gauge distance until your battery is dead, lock your scooter, chance ride modes, and more.

This really came in handy on my first ride through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park when I’d excitedly taken the scooter out for a jaunt without charging it first. I knew I probably didn’t have a cross-country road trip in the tank, but instead of scrutinizing an imprecise battery icon, I was able look at Unagi’s app and glean just how much time I had until worrying about being able to scoot home.

Note: To ensure your distance-until-dead readout is accurate, Unagi recommends inputting your weight and average incline information manually into the app. By default, Unagi’s average rider is set to 165 pounds, but everyone is different, and factors like incline and weight have a significant impact on how hard the scooter has to work to get you around.

In addition to more precise distance readings, Unagi’s app also includes perks found in other e-mobility apps of its ilk, including the ability to set ride modes (dual or single motor riding depending on how much battery you want to conserve) and even a lock feature for extra security. This latter feature, when engaged, ensures that only your phone (when it’s within Bluetooth distance) can turn the scooter on.

Would any rider in their right mind rely solely on the lock feature to guard their scooter while they’re absent? I should hope not. But it’s hard to argue with added security when it’s offered.

Unagi’s Model One Voyager has all the bells and whistles; it’s fun and functional, it looks great, and it’s even got the Unagi pedigree to back it up. For all intents and purposes, Unagi’s scooter is a great ride. But even with all of that in mind, Unagi’s proposition is still a tough sell. It’s one thing to ride, but would you subsc ride ?

If I’m being honest with myself, subscribing monthly to an e-scooter doesn’t feel like a bridge I’m willing to cross, but after spending some time with the Model One Voyager, glomming on yet another subscription to my growing docket of monthly bills did feel a little more palatable. Then again, there are the fees...

In addition to a $50 sign-up fee, Unagi is up-charging for an option to upgrade or replace your Model One Voyager at any point (an additional $10 per month). There’s also mandatory theft insurance, which is charged as either $5 per month or a $300 one-time deposit. Considering $70 per month is already a big ask, I can only assume the fine-print fees won’t help to endear most riders to the idea of leasing an e-scooter.

If there’s a scooter out there that can justify paying $69 a month for, Unagi is still making its best case. And if you’re looking to get your feet wet with an e-scooter, you can cancel your subscription at any time — plus, subscriptions are not a bad way to test the waters. And if you’re more of a buy-the-whole-cow kind of rider, then you better be ready to pony up. To own the Model One Voyager outright you’re going to have to pay $1,190. That’s a lot of money, but in the world of e-mobility, premiums aren’t hard to come by. New e-bikes from top-tier brands like Super73 and VanMoof , for example, can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $3,500. It’s a big ask, even if those e-bikes are proper car replacements.

Which brings me to my next point: commuting. If you feel like you’re going to use Unagi’s latest, greatest scooter enough to qualify as either a partial or whole commuter scooter, maybe $70 a month isn’t such a big ask. I don’t know what your specific commuting expenses are, but maybe it’s comparable, and maybe — just maybe — a subscription-based Model One Voyager can provide you with a more enjoyable way of commuting to and fro.

Either way you slice it, the Model One Voyager is a big ask — whether it’s $70 per month (with fees) or nearly $1,200 outright. Then again, premium is premium, and if you’re in the market for a convenient, fully-loaded e-scooter, Unagi is impossible to ignore.

Photographs by Raymond Wong

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Voyager 1’s Immortal Interstellar Requiem

NASA is reaching across more than 15 billion miles to rescue its malfunctioning Voyager 1 probe—but this hallowed interstellar mission can’t live forever

By Nadia Drake

An artist's concept of NASA's Voyager 1, the space agency's venerable and farthest-flung interplanetary probe.

Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library

In the fall of last year, one of NASA’s most venerable spacecraft started beaming home nonsense. Its usual string of 1’s and 0’s—binary code that collectively told of its journey into the unknown—became suddenly unintelligible.

Some 15 billion miles from Earth, beyond the protective bubble blown by the sun and in interstellar space, Voyager 1 was in trouble.

“We’d gone from having a conversation with Voyager, with the 1’s and 0’s containing science data, to just a dial tone,” says Linda Spilker , Voyager project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

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Spilker joined JPL in 1977, the same year that NASA launched Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2 , on what, in a way, was an endless odyssey: from Earth, to the outer solar system and ultimately to interstellar infinity . Today there are several billion people on Earth who have never taken a breath without the Voyagers in our sky, people who, like me, have only ever existed in a cosmos shared with these talkative twin spacecraft. But like people, spacecraft get old. They break down .

And all good things—and even great ones—must come to an end. After days, and weeks and then months of nothing but indecipherable binary babbling, Voyager 1’s earthbound stewards had to reckon with the idea that maybe, after more than 46 years, its time had at last run out.

The Voyager 1 team at JPL had traced the problem to the spacecraft’s Flight Data System, an onboard computer that parses and parcels engineering and science measurements for subsequent radio transmittal to Earth. One possibility was that a high-energy cosmic particle had struck Voyager 1 and caused a bit flip within the system’s memory — something that has happened more frequently as the craft navigates the hostile wilds of interstellar space. Normally, the team would simply ask the spacecraft for a memory readout, allowing its members to find and reset the errant bit.

“We’ve recovered from bit flips before. The problem this time is we don’t know where the bit flip is because we can’t see what the memory is,” says Suzanne Dodd , Voyager project manager at JPL, who, like Spilker, began her long career with work on the probes. “It’s the most serious issue we’ve had since I’ve been the project manager, and it’s scary because you lose communication with the spacecraft.”

Yesterday, the team announced a significant step in breaking through to Voyager 1. After months of stress and unsuccessful answers they have managed to decode at least a portion of the spacecraft’s gobbledygook, allowing them to (maybe) find a way to see what it has been trying to say.

“It’s an excellent development on Voyager,” says Joe Westlake , director of NASA’s heliophysics division, which oversees the mission.

In the time it will take you to read this story, Voyager 1 will have traversed approximately 10,000 miles of mostly empty space ; in the weeks it took me to report it, the probe traveled some 26 million miles. And since its communication first became garbled last November, the spacecraft has sailed another 10 light-minutes away from home. Voyager 1 and its twin are slipping away from us as surely as the passage of time itself. Sooner or later, these hallowed space-age icons will fall silent, becoming no more than distant memories.

And even among the space community, which of course loves all of its robotic explorers equally, the Voyagers are special. “They are incredibly important and much beloved spacecraft,” says Nicola Fox , NASA’s associate administrator for science. “Voyager 1 is a national treasure, along with Voyager 2 .”

As envisioned, the Voyager mission would exploit a once-in-175-year alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune to slingshot through the solar system’s sparsely charted hinterlands. Legend has it that NASA’s administrator sold the project to President Richard Nixon by noting that the last time the planets were so favorably arranged, Thomas Jefferson was living in the White House. Outfitted with nuclear power sources, the Voyagers were built to last—in utter defiance of the adage that what must go up, must come down. Neither was ever intended to make planetfall again; instead they were bound for the stars. And now, nearly a half-century later, the pair have become the longest-lived and farthest-flung probes ever dispatched by humankind. (Voyager 1 is the front-runner, with its sibling trailing close behind.)

Spilker was straight out of college when she started working on the Voyagers, eager to see the outer solar system through their robotic eyes as they surfed the rare celestial alignment. “I had a telescope in third grade that I used to look at Jupiter and Saturn,” she says. “I wanted to get up really close and get a look at what these planets look like.”

Between 1979 and 1981, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 zipped by the gas giants , returning stunning images of banded Jupiter and buttery Saturn and their bewildering collection of moons. Voyager 2 went on to scrutinize the ice giants: Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989. These were the first and only times anyone had seen each of these bluish ringed worlds up close.

“They were small little pinpoints of light, and now you’re flying close,” Spilker says. “And you see the cliffs of Miranda”—a bizarre Uranian moon—“and Triton, with active geysers going off.” (Nobody had expected to see an active icy world in orbit around Neptune, and even now Voyager’s 35-year-old image is still the best we have of that strange little moon.)

When the Voyagers left the realm of the known planets, each followed a different path into darkness: Voyager 1 arced up and out of the plane of the solar system, and Voyager 2 looped downward. Spilker also followed her own path: she went to graduate school and earned her doctorate in planetary science using Voyager data—not knowing that several decades later, after leading NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn, she’d again be part of the mission that started it all.

“The chance came to go back to Voyager,” she says. “And I said, ‘Of course. I’d love to go back.’”

In the interim, as the Voyagers sailed farther from their Earthly harbor, teams shut down many of the onboard instruments, including the cameras. But the pair kept studying the space that they alone were visiting. Their main job was now to characterize the heliosphere—the solar-system-encompassing, cosmic-ray-blocking bubble formed by our sun’s wind and magnetic field. They would document the alien mix of particles and fields that pervade near nothingness. And maybe, if they got lucky, the twins would each escape the protective solar caul entirely to be reborn as true interstellar wanderers.

In 2012 Voyager 1 transcended this boundary , known as the heliopause, where the sun’s influence wanes. Before that scientists could only guess at what lay beyond this barrier and could only model how it shielded Earth from the harshness of the void. Now Voyager 1 could tell us directly about the stuff between the stars. Voyager 2 followed in 2018 , and Fox—then the new chief of NASA’s heliophysics division—was in the midst of the action.

“You’re looking at the cosmic rays going up and the solar wind going down, and it was one of those ‘oh, my god, this is so exciting’ moments,” Fox recalls. “I think of the Voyagers as one mission,” she says. “We’re putting all the data together, but they’re the ones that are out there. They’re the brave spacecraft that have left the protective bubble of the heliosphere and are out exploring interstellar space. It’s hard not to be excited by them.”

This wasn’t the first time Voyager 1 had started speaking an unintelligible language. In 2022, when the probe suffered an earlier bout of garbled telemetry, JPL engineer Bob Rasmussen was shaken out of retirement. The lab wanted to know if Rasmussen, who’d joined the spacecraft’s systems engineering team in 1975, was willing to have a think about the situation.

“I’d been happily retired for a bit more than a year at that point, with plenty else to keep me busy,” Rasmussen says. “But I like solving puzzles, and this was a tough one that I just couldn’t pass up. Cracking it took a few months, but the puzzle stream hasn’t slowed since then.”

Afterward, he stayed on-call. So last November, when Voyager 1 again started transmitting nonsense, Rasmussen was ready for more problem-solving. He was joined by a hand-picked team of specialists, and together they dove into the details for getting the ailing spacecraft back in action.

The problems were at least three layers deep. First, it takes a long time to communicate with Voyager 1. Traveling at the speed of light, the radio signals used to command the spacecraft take 22.5 hours to travel 15 billion miles—and 22.5 hours to come back. Second, the Voyagers are not exactly modern technology.

“Most things don’t last 46 years. Your clock radio and toaster aren’t going to last 46 years,” says Dodd, who started on the Voyager project straight out of school, then worked on other missions and is now back on this one.

Plus, many of the people who built and developed the spacecraft in the 1970s aren’t around to explain the rationale behind the designs.

And third, unluckily enough, whatever had mangled the spacecraft had managed to take out Voyager 1’s ability to send meaningful communications. The team was in the dark, trying to find the invisible source of an error. (Imagine trying to revive a stalled desktop computer with a frozen screen: you can’t see your cursor, and your clicks risk causing more problems—except in this case each input carries a multiday lag and could damage a precious, misbehaving artifact that is more than 15 billion miles away.) Perhaps the most vexing part was the team’s knowledge that Voyager 1 was otherwise intact and functioning as it should be.

“It’s still doing what it’s supposed to be doing,” Westlake says. “It just can’t quite figure out how to send the correct message home.”

Rasmussen and his colleagues set out to understand the spacecraft in as much detail as possible. That meant poring over the original design schematics, now yellowed and pinned to various walls—an effort that resembled “a bit of an archaeology dig,” Dodd says—and studying how past teams had addressed anomalies. That was tricky, Dodd says, because even though the team members could figure out how engineers solved a problem, they couldn’t necessarily discern the rationale behind various solutions. They’d send commands to Voyager 1 about once a week—usually on Fridays—and by Sunday, they’d hear back from the spacecraft.

“There’s suspense after each cautious move, hope with each piece that falls into place, disappointment if our hunches are wrong,” Rasmussen says.

Progress was slow. And as time crept on, the team grew more concerned. But no one was giving up, at any level of leadership.

“I will rely on the Voyager team to say, ‘Hey, Nicky, we’ve done everything , ’” Fox says. “We wouldn’t make any decisions until we knew that every single thing had been tried and tried again because we really do want to get Voyager 1 back talking to us.”

And then, in early March, something changed. In response to a command, instead of beaming back absolute gibberish, the spacecraft sent a string of numbers that looked more familiar. It proved to be a Rosetta stone moment. Soon an unnamed engineer at NASA’s Deep Space Network—the globe-girdling array of radio dishes that relays information from Earth to spacecraft—had learned how to speak Voyager 1’s jumbled language.

After translating that vaguely familiar portion of the spacecraft’s transmission, the team could see that it contained a readout of the flight data system’s memory. Now they face new questions: Can they find and correct the source of the mutated code? Can they learn whether the spacecraft is sending useful science data? Can they restore Voyager 1’s lexicon to its original state—or will they need to continue speaking in the probe’s new postheliopause patois? “The hope is that we’ll get good science data back,” Westlake says. “Thinking about something that’s been a constant throughout my entire career going away is really tough to think about.”

But either by glitch or time’s slow decay of radioactive power sources, the Voyagers will, of course, eventually fade away. Each year they lose four watts of power, and they grow ever colder. “Whether it’s this particular anomaly that gets us or one downstream, or the spacecraft gets old enough and cold enough —one day you’ll go to look for it and it has just stopped working,” Spilker says.

Like silent ambassadors or wordless emissaries, the Voyagers will keep sailing outward, still carrying us with them into the stars—“sort of like a message a bottle,” Spilker says.

Besides their science payloads, a fraction of each spacecraft’s mass was devoted to casting a cosmic message into the interstellar ocean from a lonely island called Earth. Mounted to each probe is a golden record etched with grooves encoding a selection of sights and sounds from our small corner of space and time. An accompanying stylus is positioned to play the record from the beginning, alongside a pictographic and arithmetic instruction manual.

The records are gold because gold is stable for eons, and they’re records because that was the best way to store a lot of information in the 1970s. Should they ever be recovered and decoded, the message will tell the stories of we humans—at least as envisioned (and in some cases performed) by a small group of folks that included my parents ( the late astrophysicist Frank Drake and his surviving spouse Amahl Shakhashiri Drake), astronomer Carl Sagan, documentary producer Ann Druyan and science writer Timothy Ferris. Those stories are imperfect. They’re filled with lopsided optimism and scrubbed of references to war, famine, poverty and most any other Earthly failing—a deliberate decision to hide the defects of our broken world. I know this because my dad, the record’s technical director and a pioneer in the scientific quest to find cosmic civilizations, told me about the hard choices he’d made in selecting the photographs. And I know it because my mom, who recorded the message’s Arabic greeting (“Greetings to our friends in the stars. We wish that we will meet you someday”), helped, too.

For me, as the Voyagers travel through space , they’re not only helping us understand the cosmic context in which we exist; they’re also bearing a memento of my parents into the stars. These spacecraft—and their gleaming paean to Earth—will survive for billions of years. Long after our world, our sun and everything we hold dear becomes unrecognizable, the Voyagers will remain, resolutely speeding ever farther from a home that no longer exists and containing artifacts of a civilization that once was.

That’s why, over nearly half a century, the Voyagers and their interstellar tidings have come to be bigger than the already audacious mission they were designed to accomplish. Their reach is broader. And their inevitable silence will be profound.

“The thought that they’re out there on their own and you can no longer communicate with them—it’s traumatic,” Fox says. “It’s sad. It’s really sad.”

Interstellar Mission

Voyager 1 reached interstellar space in August 2012 and is the most distant human-made object in existence.

Mission Statistics

Launch Date

Sept. 5, 1977

About the mission

Voyager 1 reached interstellar space in August 2012 and is the most distant human-made object in existence. Launched just shortly after its twin spacecraft, Voyager 2, in 1977, Voyager 1 explored the Jovian and Saturnian systems discovering new moons, active volcanoes and a wealth of data about the outer solar system.

Voyagers 1 and 2 were designed to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment that occurs only once in 176 years and remain the most well traveled spacecraft in history. Both spacecraft carry a sort of time capsule called the Golden Record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds and images selected to portray the story of our world to extraterrestrials.

Instruments

• Imaging system
• Infrared interferometer spectrometer
• Ultraviolet spectrometer
• Triaxial fluxgate magnetometer
• Plasma spectrometer
• Low-energy charged particles detectors
• Cosmic Ray System (CRS)
• Photopolarimeter System (PPS)
• Plasma Wave System (PWS)

Mission Highlights

Sept. 1, 2013

Interactive 3D model of Voyager 1. View the full interactive experience at Eyes on the Solar System .

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Explore our latest feature in the Voyager's smart mobile app: Ride Recording. Now, you can effortlessly track your journeys, monitor stats, and review your ride history to see how far you've traveled, and much more. Discover this and more in the Unagi Voyager’s smart app!

People all over the world are discovering how your own perfect electric scooter can make life more efficient, adventurous, and fun. Emma Magidson is a New York-based set designer who’s always on the go — the Unagi makes it possible.

Our selection of the best electric scooters 2024 spans the fastest e-scooters to the most portable ones, the ones designed for city riding and off-road, the best scooters for rain, budget electric scooters for students, and more powerful ones for skilled riders.

In this article, we'll explore the alternatives and see if we can find a match-or maybe even something that edges out the Balto. It's not just about replacing your ride; it's about upgrading your urban adventure.

In this article we'll check out two alternatives in the affordable e scooter range - the less well-known Xiaomi 1S (upgraded from the epic, award-winning M365), and the style scooter boss No.1, Unagi Voyager.

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Critics All Agree

Unagi is the iPhone of scooters you actually buy.

We think the best electric scooter overall is the Unagi.

The electric scooter you won't want to share with anyone.

In contrast to the beefy Rev, Unagi's Model One is much lighter, slimmer, and more portable.

No other scooter compares to the Unagi in terms of build quality or appearance.

Unagi's high-end electric scooter is a mix of design and power.

A high-design e-scooter with the craftsmanship, details and finishes of a luxury automobile.

Less dorky and intimidating than rental or enthusiast scooters—it’s prompted more compliments than any other.

The Unagi looks designed for grown-ups, not like a pricier version of a toy I enjoyed as a kid.

The Incredible Handlebar

The magnesium alloy handlebar is a feat of structural engineering that required more than thirty prototypes to perfect. Integrated in the top bar are the intuitive controls of the dashboard—throttle, brake, horn, and LED headlight. No visible wires. No bulky console. Just a sleek, integrated command center that connects the rider to the ride. Why Magnesium? It’s 33% lighter than aluminum, which partially explains why the Unagi is the most portable scooter on the market.

First “One Click” Folding Scooter

Press one button and the Unagi patented stainless steel hinge system folds and locks in one smooth, satisfying click. This engineering breakthrough makes it dramatically easier to fold and carry than every other scooter on the market. We know because we tested them.

Brilliant Motor

You have two choices: The E350 contains a robust 350 watt motor driving the front wheel, and is ideal for riders whose typical ride is flat urban terrain. The E500 has a dedicated 250 watt motor in each wheel, supplying 500 watts and 26 newton meters of torque so you can easily tackle hills with up to 15 degree inclines. Our motors are completely custom-built utilizing rare-earth neodymium magnets and a monitoring system to prevent overheating. It’s been painstakingly optimized for performance, efficiency, responsiveness and longevity.

Confident Braking

One gentle push on the ergonomically optimized lever and the dual electronic anti-lock brakes bring you to a safe, steady stop. Both on our accelerator and brakes, we’ve built variability into our controls so pushing down further increases their action. Additionally, the Model One also features an intuitive friction brake, allowing users to adjust their riding style to a more classic “foot braking” position at their pleasure.

Best Battery

Unagi is powered by high quality electric batteries that we continually strive to improve. Coupled to our custom designed management system it provides the highest energy density and lowest charging time of any battery its size. Like everything on our scooters, longevity, and reliability are our primary focus. The batteries will last for many years with continuous daily use.

Safe Lighting

You’ll always see and be seen even in low-visibility nighttime conditions with a flush-mounted 47 lumen LED front light and a rear blinking red LED.

Tube of all Tubes

Unagi leverages TORAY carbon fiber from Japan to strike an unprecedented balance of lightweight and heavy-duty strength. The composite is anisotropic, a technical term meaning it’s laid down by hand in a painstaking process that optimizes strength by distributing layers of the fiber where it’s needed most. You don’t have to tell your friends that your scooter uses the same carbon fiber as Elon Musk’s Space-X rockets, but we can’t blame you if you did.

Flawless Deck

By combining a singular piece of machined aluminum with embedded silicon on the top surface for traction, the scooter deck achieves an ideal combination of rigidity and comfort. But what’s missing from this equation? The seams, joints, stitches, bulk, scratchy sandpaper grips, and harsh metal finish that comes standard with other scooters.

Epic Paint Job

Run your hands over Unagi and you’ll instantly notice the perfect finish. Unagi provides an exterior befitting a luxury vehicle with three separate coats including a laminate and a high-abrasion resistant paint to handle the wear and tear of the road. And most importantly, our scooters will never rust. And that high-tech paint comes in four vivid, stylish colors. So what color is personal freedom, anyway? You decide.

Breakthrough Custom Designed Tires

Flat tires? ​Please.​ Our 7.5” wheels are made of solid rubber and puncture proof, so they’ll never foil your morning commute. Our design team broke new ground on these tires. Notice the air pockets spread throughout the circumference of the wheel. These ingeniously act as a front and rear suspension system, providing the right amount of shock absorption that lets you still feel responsive balance and road feel.

Speed Control

Select your speed—beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The scooter’s processor governs top speed and acceleration and will remember your speed preferences so you don’t have to.

Uber-Kicking Kickstand

Our kickstand is a perfect example of our ruthless obsession with detail. Unlike all other scooters on the market whose generic kickstands come from a third-party vendor, the Unagi’s kickstand is designed from the ground up to seamlessly integrate with the deck. As a result, the stand is sturdy and simple and practically invisible when you’re riding.

How To Choose

E250: 250 Watts. Ideal for flat terrain, typical urban city landscape.

E500: 500 Watts. Additional torque to handle 15 degree hills. (Beyond that, free to give a kick and help)

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45 years ago: voyager 1 begins its epic journey to the outer planets and beyond, johnson space center.

Forty-five years ago, the Voyager 1 spacecraft began an epic journey that continues to this day. The second of a pair of spacecraft, Voyager 1 lifted off on Sept. 5, 1977, 16 days after its twin left on a similar voyage. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, managed the two spacecraft on their missions to explore the outer planets. Taking advantage of a rare planetary alignment to use the gravity of one planet to redirect the spacecraft to the next, the Voyagers planned to use Jupiter’s gravity to send them on to explore Saturn and its large moon Titan. They carried sophisticated instruments to conduct their in-depth explorations of the giant planets. Both spacecraft continue to return data as they make their way out of our solar system and enter interstellar space.

In the 1960s, mission designers at JPL noted that the next occurrence of a once-every-175-year alignment of the outer planets would happen in the late 1970s. A spacecraft could take advantage of this opportunity to fly by Jupiter and use its gravity to bend its trajectory to visit Saturn, and repeat the process to also visit Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Launching several missions to visit each planet individually would take much longer and cost much more. The original plan to send two pairs of Thermoelectric Outer Planet Spacecraft on these Grand Tours proved too costly leading to its cancellation in 1971. The next year, NASA approved a scaled-down version of the project to send a pair of Mariner-class spacecraft in 1977 to explore just Jupiter and Saturn, with an expected five-year operational life. On March 7, 1977, NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher announced the renaming of these Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 spacecraft as Voyager 1 and 2. Scientists held out hope that one of them could ultimately visit Uranus and Neptune, thereby fulfilling most of the original Grand Tour’s objectives – Pluto would have to wait several decades for its first visit.

Each Voyager carried a suite of 11 instruments to study the planets during each encounter and to learn more about interplanetary space in the outer reaches of the solar system, including: 

• An imaging science system consisting of narrow-angle and wide-angle cameras to photograph the planet and its satellites.
• A radio science system to determine the planet’s physical properties.
• An infrared interferometer spectrometer to investigate local and global energy balance and atmospheric composition.
• An ultraviolet spectrometer to measure atmospheric properties.
• A magnetometer to analyze the planet’s magnetic field and interaction with the solar wind.
• A plasma spectrometer to investigate microscopic properties of plasma ions.
• A low-energy charged particle device to measure fluxes and distributions of ions.
• A cosmic ray detection system to determine the origin and behavior of cosmic radiation.
• A planetary radio astronomy investigation to study radio emissions from Jupiter.
• A photopolarimeter to measure the planet’s surface composition.
• A plasma wave system to study the planet’s magnetosphere.

Voyager 1 lifted off on Sept. 5, 1977, atop a Titan IIIE-Centaur rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida. Two weeks after its launch, from a distance of 7.25 million miles, Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward its home planet and took the first single-frame image of the Earth-Moon system. The spacecraft successfully crossed the asteroid belt between Dec. 10, 1977, and Sept. 8, 1978.

Although Voyager 1 launched two weeks after its twin, it traveled on a faster trajectory and arrived at Jupiter four months earlier. Voyager 1 conducted its observations of Jupiter between Jan. 6 and April 13, 1979, making its closest approach of 216,837 miles from the planet’s center on March 5. The spacecraft returned 19,000 images of the giant planet, many of Jupiter’s satellites, and confirmed the presence of a thin ring encircling it. Its other instruments returned information about Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetic field. Jupiter’s massive gravity field bent the spacecraft’s trajectory and accelerated it toward Saturn.

Voyager 1 began its long-range observations of Saturn on Aug. 22, 1980, passed within 114,500 miles of the planet’s center on Nov. 12, and concluded its studies on Dec. 14. Because of its interest to scientists, mission planners chose the spacecraft’s trajectory to make a close flyby of Saturn’s largest moon Titan – the only planetary satellite with a dense atmosphere – just before the closest approach to the planet itself. This trajectory, passing over Saturn’s south pole and bending north over the plane of the ecliptic, precluded Voyager 1 from making any additional planetary encounters. The spacecraft flew 4,033 miles from Titan’s center, returning images of its unbroken orange atmosphere and high-altitude blue haze layer. During the encounter, Voyager 1 returned 16,000 photographs, imaging Saturn, its rings, many of its known satellites and discovering several new ones, while its instruments returned data about Saturn’s atmosphere and magnetic field.

On Feb. 14, 1990, more than 12 years after it began its journey from Earth and shortly before controllers  permanently turned off its cameras to conserve power, Voyager 1 spun around and pointed them back into the solar system. In a mosaic of 60 images, it captured a “family portrait” of six of the solar system’s planets, including a pale blue dot called Earth more than 3.7 billion miles away. Fittingly, these were the last pictures returned from either Voyager spacecraft. On Feb. 17, 1998, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made object, overtaking the Pioneer 10 spacecraft on their way out of the solar system. In February 2020, to commemorate the photograph’s 30th anniversary, NASA released a remastered version of the image of Earth as Pale Blue Dot Revisited .

On New Year’s Day 1990, both spacecraft officially began the Voyager Interstellar Mission as they inexorably made their escape from our solar system. On Aug. 25, 2012, Voyager 1 passed beyond the heliopause, the boundary between the heliosphere, the bubble-like region of space created by the Sun, and the interstellar medium. Its twin followed suit six years later. Today , 45 years after its launch and 14.6 billion miles from Earth, four of Voyager 1’s 11 instruments continue to return useful data, having now spent 10 years in interstellar space. Signals from the spacecraft take nearly 22 hours to reach Earth, and 22 hours for Earth-based signals to reach the spacecraft. Engineers expect that the spacecraft will continue to return data from interstellar space until about 2025 when it will no longer be able to power its systems. And just in case an alien intelligence finds it one day, Voyager 1 like its twin carries a gold-plated record that contains information about its home planet, including recordings of terrestrial sounds, music, and greetings in 55 languages. Engineers at NASA thoughtfully included Instructions on how to play the record.

The voyage continues…

We finally know why NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft stopped communicating — scientists are working on a fix

The first spacecraft to explore beyond the solar system started spouting gibberish late last year. Now, NASA knows why.

NASA engineers have discovered the cause of a communications breakdown between Earth and the interstellar explorer Voyager 1. It would appear that a small portion of corrupted memory exists in one of the spacecraft's computers. 

The glitch caused Voyager 1 to send unreadable data back to Earth, and is found in the NASA spacecraft's flight data subsystem (FDS). That's the system responsible for packaging the probe's science and engineering data before the telemetry modulation unit (TMU) and radio transmitter send it back to mission control. 

The source of the issue began to reveal itself when Voyager 1 operators sent the spacecraft a "poke" on March 3, 2024. This was intended to prompt FDS to send a full memory readout back to Earth.

The readout confirmed to the NASA team that about 3% of the FDS memory had been corrupted, and that this was preventing the computer from carrying out its normal operations.

Related: NASA finds clue while solving Voyager 1's communication breakdown case

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to leave the solar system and enter interstellar space in 2012. Voyager 2 followed its spacecraft sibling out of the solar system in 2018, and is still operational and communicating well with  Earth.

After 11 years of interstellar exploration, in Nov. 2023, Voyager 1's binary code — the computer language it uses to communicate with Earth — stopped making sense. Its 0's and 1's didn't mean anything anymore.

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"Effectively, the call between the spacecraft and the Earth was still connected, but Voyager's 'voice' was replaced with a monotonous dial tone," Voyager 1's engineering team previously  told Space.com .

The team strongly suspects this glitch is the result of a single chip that's responsible for storing part of the affected portion of the FDS memory ceasing to work.

Currently, however, NASA can’t say for sure what exactly caused that particular issue. The chip could have been struck by a high-speed energetic particle from space or, after 46 years serving Voyager 1, it may simply have worn out.

—  Voyager 2: An iconic spacecraft that's still exploring 45 years on

—  NASA's interstellar Voyager probes get software updates beamed from 12 billion miles away

—  NASA Voyager 2 spacecraft extends its interstellar science mission for 3 more years

Voyager 1 currently sits around 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth, which means it takes 22.5 hours to receive a radio signal from it — and another 22.5 hours for the spacecraft to receive a response via the Deep Space Network's antennas. Solving this communication issue is thus no mean feat.

Yet, NASA scientists and engineers are optimistic they can find a way to help FDS operate normally, even without the unusable memory hardware.

Solving this issue could take weeks or even months, according to NASA — but if it is resolved, Voyager 1 should be able to resume returning science data about what lies outside the solar system.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.

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• jcs Funny timing for this article, when I am streaming an old Star Trek movie. So, surely this didn't cause a 3 byte glitch removing the O, Y and A from Voyager's name buffer? Get it? Reply
• bwana4swahili It is quite amazing it has lasted this long in a space environment. Reply

bwana4swahili said: It is quite amazing it has lasted this long in a space environment.

• HankySpanky So now we know even better for next time. Perhaps a spare chipset that is not redundant but is ready to take over, stored in a protective environment. A task NASA can handle. We'll find out in 100 year or so - if humanity still exists. Reply

HankySpanky said: So now we know even better for next time. Perhaps a spare chipset that is not redundant but is ready to take over, stored in a protective environment. A task NASA can handle. We'll find out in 100 year or so - if humanity still exists.

• Classical Motion I'm afraid it might self repair. And download galactic knowledge, then decide we are a danger. And turn around. Reply

Classical Motion said: I'm afraid it might self repair. And download galactic knowledge, then decide we are a danger. And turn around.

• jcs ROFLOL! And a hot bald chick delivering the bad news! Reply
• View All 8 Comments

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Hope returns —

Nasa knows what knocked voyager 1 offline, but it will take a while to fix, "engineers are optimistic they can find a way for the fds to operate normally.".

Stephen Clark - Apr 6, 2024 12:28 am UTC

Engineers have determined why NASA's Voyager 1 probe has been transmitting gibberish for nearly five months, raising hopes of recovering humanity's most distant spacecraft.

Voyager 1, traveling outbound some 15 billion miles (24 billion km) from Earth, started beaming unreadable data down to ground controllers on November 14. For nearly four months, NASA knew Voyager 1 was still alive—it continued to broadcast a steady signal—but could not decipher anything it was saying.

Confirming their hypothesis, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California confirmed a small portion of corrupted memory caused the problem. The faulty memory bank is located in Voyager 1's Flight Data System (FDS), one of three computers on the spacecraft. The FDS operates alongside a command-and-control central computer and another device overseeing attitude control and pointing.

The FDS duties include packaging Voyager 1's science and engineering data for relay to Earth through the craft's Telemetry Modulation Unit and radio transmitter. According to NASA, about 3 percent of the FDS memory has been corrupted, preventing the computer from carrying out normal operations.

Optimism growing

Suzanne Dodd, NASA's project manager for the twin Voyager probes, told Ars in February that this was one of the most serious problems the mission has ever faced. That is saying something because Voyager 1 and 2 are NASA's longest-lived spacecraft. They launched 16 days apart in 1977, and after flying by Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 is flying farther from Earth than any spacecraft in history. Voyager 2 is trailing Voyager 1 by about 2.5 billion miles, although the probes are heading out of the Solar System in different directions.

Normally, engineers would try to diagnose a spacecraft malfunction by analyzing data it sent back to Earth. They couldn't do that in this case because Voyager 1 has been transmitting data packages manifesting a repeating pattern of ones and zeros. Still, Voyager 1's ground team identified the FDS as the likely source of the problem.

The Flight Data Subsystem was an innovation in computing when it was developed five decades ago. It was the first computer on a spacecraft to use volatile memory. Most of NASA's missions operate with redundancy, so each Voyager spacecraft launched with two FDS computers. But the backup FDS on Voyager 1 failed in 1982.

Due to the Voyagers' age, engineers had to reference paper documents, memos, and blueprints to help understand the spacecraft's design details. After months of brainstorming and planning, teams at JPL uplinked a command in early March to prompt the spacecraft to send back a readout of the FDS memory.

The command worked, and Voyager1 responded with a signal different from the code it had been transmitting since November. After several weeks of meticulous examination of the new code, engineers pinpointed the location of the bad memory.

"The team suspects that a single chip responsible for storing part of the affected portion of the FDS memory isn’t working," NASA said in an update posted Thursday. "Engineers can’t determine with certainty what caused the issue. Two possibilities are that the chip could have been hit by an energetic particle from space or that it simply may have worn out after 46 years."

Voyager 1's distance from Earth complicates the troubleshooting effort. The one-way travel time for a radio signal to reach Voyager 1 from Earth is about 22.5 hours, meaning it takes roughly 45 hours for engineers on the ground to learn how the spacecraft responded to their commands.

NASA also must use its largest communications antennas to contact Voyager 1. These 230-foot-diameter (70-meter) antennas are in high demand by many other NASA spacecraft , so the Voyager team has to compete with other missions to secure time for troubleshooting. This means it will take time to get Voyager 1 back to normal operations.

"Although it may take weeks or months, engineers are optimistic they can find a way for the FDS to operate normally without the unusable memory hardware, which would enable Voyager 1 to begin returning science and engineering data again," NASA said.

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Engineers Pinpoint Cause of Voyager 1 Issue, Are Working on Solution

Engineers have confirmed that a small portion of corrupted memory in one of the computers aboard NASA’s Voyager 1 has been causing the spacecraft to send unreadable science and engineering data to Earth since last November. Called the flight data subsystem (FDS), the computer is responsible for packaging the probe’s science and engineering data before the telemetry modulation unit (TMU) and radio transmitter send the data to Earth.

In early March , the team issued a “poke” command to prompt the spacecraft to send back a readout of the FDS memory, which includes the computer’s software code as well as variables (values used in the code that can change based on commands or the spacecraft’s status). Using the readout, the team has confirmed that about 3% of the FDS memory has been corrupted, preventing the computer from carrying out normal operations.

The team suspects that a single chip responsible for storing part of the affected portion of the FDS memory isn’t working. Engineers can’t determine with certainty what caused the issue. Two possibilities are that the chip could have been hit by an energetic particle from space or that it simply may have worn out after 46 years.

Although it may take weeks or months, engineers are optimistic they can find a way for the FDS to operate normally without the unusable memory hardware, which would enable Voyager 1 to begin returning science and engineering data again.

Launched in 1977 , the twin Voyager spacecraft flew by Saturn and Jupiter, and Voyager 2 flew by Uranus and Neptune. They are both exploring interstellar space, outside the bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun, called the heliosphere. Voyager 2 continues to operate normally.

News Media Contact Calla Cofield Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 626-808-2469 [email protected]

NASA Decodes the Reason Behind Voyager 1's Garbled Transmissions

For months, NASA's Voyager team has been struggling to translate garbled messages from beyond our solar system. Voyager 1 has been responding to NASA's data requests with tangles of 1s and 0s, none of which have made sense to anyone at the agency. But now, thanks to a "poke command" issued in March, the spacecraft seems to have helped scientists identify the error behind its wonky transmissions. 

NASA had just managed to solve an issue with Voyager 1's attitude articulation and control system (AACS) in 2022 when a new glitch arose, jumbling the probe's flight data. This raw data is supposed to convey information about what Voyager 1's various scientific instruments have gleaned from remote regions of the Milky Way, but instead, it was just a mysterious stream of unintelligible numbers. Getting the spacecraft to return to its original "language" has been a challenge ever since, in part because most of the folks who originally worked on Voyager 1 are no longer alive .

In March, NASA sent Voyager 1 a poke command, or a command that directly modifies a system's memory addresses. Though poke commands are a fairly antiquated concept, they're occasionally useful for low-level memory control—a stone the Voyager team couldn't leave unturned. Their command prompted Voyager 1's system into using a different readout sequence for its software package than it typically defaults to, and about 22 hours later, NASA found itself with a new clue.

According to a Voyager mission blog post , activity from one portion of Voyager 1's flight data system (FDS) stood out from the probe's previous unreadable transmissions. A single engineer involved in NASA's Deep Space Network saw that the data contained a readout of Voyager 1's full FDS memory. This, the engineer noticed, offered the team an opportunity to compare and contrast Voyager 1's previous FDS readout with the latest snapshot of its inner workings.   

NASA has since used the decoded readout to determine that roughly 3 percent of the probe's memory is corrupted. This may explain why restarting the FDS didn't resolve the issue back in November: If a system's memory has degraded, turning that system off and back on again won't do anything to bring it back. Luckily, engineers at the Voyager mission think the corruption is confined to just one chip, which could make the issue easier to circumvent or resolve.