For over 36 years a representative of the human race has explored outer space, sharing company with ancient gods in order to develop our understanding of space.  After having passed by Jupiter and Saturn, the Voyager 1 spacecraft continued its mission away from Earth, and on Sept. 12 NASA announced it crossed the heliopause, exiting the solar system. In an interview with the New York Times, NASA’s Edward C. Stone, who has worked on the Voyager missions since the 1970s, said this is, “now the start of a whole new mission.”  With its primary work accomplished Voyager 1 will continue to collect empirical data, and serve as an ambassador to the stars as its work has been extended to 2025
 Crossing into interstellar space, Voyager 1 now has the chance to gather information and analyze. Researchers at NASA have received the first bits of data revealing measurements of space beyond the sun’s influence.  In The LA Times, Voyager project scientist Don Gurnett said, “We literally jumped out of our seats,” in regard to the data collected during Voyager 1’s transition to extra-solar space. The initial findings during Voyager’s transition revealed the further away from the heliosphere it traveled, the more high-energy particle collisions were detected.  These high-energy particles are important because their origins stem from explosions caused by ancient supernovas, which will help increase knowledge of the early universe.  While the spacecraft collects environmental data and records the universe’s ancient history, it also stands as the sole physical representative of humanity reaching into the cosmos.
   While at this time it is doubtful there is more intelligent life in our solar system beyond Earth, Voyager 1 represents the closest we have come to contact with another civilization.  The passage beyond known space stands as an opportunity for other beings to come across Voyager’s Golden Record, phonographic records aboard.    According to NASA.gov, the disc is a collection of 115 natural images, sound bites and depictions of human achievement.  If there ever was an instance where our planet or species became extinct, the information provided on this record would be the voice of our existence on Earth.  President Jimmy Carter, who was in office at the time of its creation, said the records were an attempt to, “survive our time, so we may live into yours.”  If Voyager 1’s Golden Record is ever discovered in the expanse beyond the solar system, mankind would live on as a transient species, as well as become a member of the galactic community.
   Now that a part of the human race has left our solar system, we can begin to turn our attention once more to the stars.  Exiting the solar system is our first step into the final frontier, and some day we may look back on when Voyager 1 as being the beginning to the colonization of our galaxy.  Presently, the measurements currently collected from the spacecraft provide us with a window into the universe’s past, and the Golden Record onboard seeks to find someone curious enough to listen to the story of Earth.