Voyager 1 spacecraft
Voyager 1 is a NASA space probe launched in 1977 to study the outer planets and now travels through interstellar space.
Also known as: Voyager 1 probe
How big is it?
3.66 m · approximate dish-to-bus span
Approximate dish-to-bus span · approximate
Typical recorded range: 3.5 m to 3.8 m.
A little perspective
Voyager 1 spacecraft vs Gaia spacecraft: length comparison
The dish-to-bus span of the Voyager 1 spacecraft is about 1.05 times the observatory height of the Gaia spacecraft.
Voyager 1 is a NASA space probe launched in 1977 to study the outer planets and now travels through interstellar space.
Gaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Voyager 1 spacecraft
Approximate dish-to-bus span: 3.66 m; approximate; range 3.5 m–3.8 m.
Voyager 1 had a launch mass of about 721.9 kg and a main dish-to-bus scale of roughly 3.66 m. Its long magnetometer boom and antennas extend beyond that calibrated span.
The marked approximate dish-to-bus span is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Gaia spacecraft
Approximate observatory height: 3.5 m; approximate; range 3.3 m–3.7 m.
ESA’s Gaia observatory was approximately 3.5 m high and had a launch mass near 2,030 kg. Its deployed circular sunshield defines a much larger transverse span.
The marked approximate observatory height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
Change your perspective
Put it next to…
Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
Why this measurement?
Why we use 3.66 m
We compare the dish-to-bus span of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty. The recorded range is 3.5 m to 3.8 m.
Voyager 1 had a launch mass of about 721.9 kg and a main dish-to-bus scale of roughly 3.66 m. Its long magnetometer boom and antennas extend beyond that calibrated span.
The marked vertical span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.66 m | 3.5 m to 3.8 m | approximate | |
| 721.9 kg | Not recorded | approximate |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mApproximate observatory heightGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
Around the same scaleVehicles and transportCovered wagon3.6 mDefined vehicle lengthA covered wagon is a four-wheeled vehicle with a canvas cover, historically used for long-distance travel and transporting goods.
Nearest higher valuePlanets, moons and spaceVostok 1 spacecraft4.4 mOverall spacecraft lengthThe Vostok 1 spacecraft carried Yuri Gagarin, the first human to orbit Earth, during his 1961 spaceflight.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA — Voyager spacecraftVoyager configuration, spacecraft systems and 3.7 m high-gain antenna.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
SpaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
SpaceCassini spacecraft6.8 mThe Cassini spacecraft was a NASA probe launched to study Saturn and its moons, carrying scientific instruments and the Huygens lander.
SportBasketball hoop standard3.95 mA basketball hoop standard is the support structure that holds a backboard, rim and net above a basketball court.
Living thingsAfrican elephant3.3 mAn African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
TransportApollo command module3.23 mThe Apollo command module was the conical spacecraft section that housed astronauts during NASA's Apollo lunar missions and re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Everyday things3 × 4 m bedroom4 mA bedroom is a private room in a home intended for sleeping and personal use.
SportTable tennis table2.74 mA table tennis table is a flat, rectangular surface divided by a net for playing the game of table tennis.
Built worldBuilding storey3 mA building storey is a single level of a structure between two floors or a floor and a ceiling.