*It was back in 1977 when an extra-ordinary, "once in a thousand years phenomenon" alignment of the planets occured. It was perfect-timing for mankind as it then gave us the opportunity to launch these space probes to the stars.

What happened was: our rockets propelled the Voyagers to low-earth orbit where it circled earth a couple times, then was given gravitational push to Mercury which it also circled too so as to give it momentum (gravitational push) to either Mars or Jupiter.

In turn, that enabled the probes to take valuable pics of the planets while also getting its fuel via the gravitational tugs of the planets. It then circled the outer [Jovian] planets & its moons giving us valuable images of those bodies.

*We finally lost contact with the Voyager in 1986. By that time, it was finished circling the Jovian planets & on its way to drift-away to the far reaches of the universe.