NASA recently reported that its Voyager 1 spacecraft (the first human-made object to venture into interstellar space) is experiencing onboard communications issues, preventing it from transmitting usable data back to Earth.


Launched on September 5. 1977 at 12:56:01 PM from Cape Canaveral, FL, the craft has now been in space for 46 years - astrologically, an 11th sign profection year from its launch date. Interestingly, in August 2012, 35 years from its launch date, but still an 11th sign profection year, was when the Voyager 1 first crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space.

As you can see, with Scorpio rising, the chart's 11th sign is Virgo, making Mercury a timelord and placing emphasis on the MC in both August 2012 and now in 2023. Combust and retrograde, while essentially and accidentally dignified, Mercury in the launch chart is an interesting planet to consider. The craft accomplished a record-breaking feat by being the first of its kind to venture into interstellar space. Though, in 2012, when scientists had suspected it had accomplished this (and it had), that data couldn't be confirmed until a year later - a combustion effect? Now, in 2023, the telemetry systems are askew, and the craft is not transmitting usable data.

11th sign profections for Mercury and the Sun in this chart shift them to Cancer -the radical chart's 8th, highlighting the radical ASC ruler (Mars) that sits in aversion to the ASC. Also, check out how an 11th sign shift for Saturn is to Gemini, a Mercury-ruled sign where the radical Moon (body of the ship) is located.

It's worth noting that in August 2012, Mercury was transiting the launch chart's 9th house (far away voyages, exploration, knowledge that is "out there"), while this year, the news about its communication failure comes as Mercury transits (and just stationed Rx in) the launch chart's 2nd house (cargo, contents of the ship - it's onboard computers).

Interesting analysis Jason,

Mercury combust (and R here) plus being the ruler of Fortuna.
In Book2, 9, Valens says of Mercury going through the Profected 8th...
"If the houseruler of the Lot (Fortuna) or of the Ascendant is under the rays of the Sun, the native will stretch out his hands to beg.... and If under these circumstances malefics are also in conjunction (Saturn here), the native will be deaf and dumb."
Hard to label Voyager as being dumb but he is not responding.

Another look under the Uranian lens.
The midpoint ME/SA = Fortuna and means 'parting to travel'.
And spaceships are ruled by Neptune (at the AS here)
With MO/NE = SU which can be translated as a 'sleeping body'. With humans, I have seen people having sleeping disorders with this midpoint.
I hope engineers have installed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to deliver just enough air pressure to keep the upper airway passages open, preventing snoring and sleep apnea of Voyager!
If you have a partner, no need for a CPAP, your mate will tell you in the morning how many times you stopped breathing and for how long.

Cheers!
Ouranos

Thanks for looking at this, Ouranos. I hoped you'd come around and drop some thoughts (+ jokes!). Your insights are always first-rate and appreciated.

There were more things I thought were cool in the chart, but I had to cut them short because I had to leave for work early Friday morning. But check out these other things I was thinking.

When you step back and look at the chart in a more general, symbolic way, I think there are some parts that really fit the "story" of this event. Like the ASC, for instance. Keep in mind that it's the last degrees of Scorpio rising, and Sagittarius will be there in just a few minutes; then take a look at the partile conjunction between Mars and Jupiter - Mars separating from Jupiter by mere minutes. It's like a story told at the ASC is reflected quite literally in the ASC sign and soon-to-be ASC signs ruling planets' bodily relationship! Mars and Jupiter together inclines to daring undertakings and feats of prowess and courage (C.E.O. Carter) and campaigns (Valens). Both Mars and Jupiter are in Cancer, a sign associated with seafaring, and Wikipedia reports that Initially, Voyager 1 was planned as "Mariner 11" of the Mariner program. Cancer is also the sign in which Mars "falls," Voyager 1's launch almost failed because Titan's LR-91 second stage shut down prematurely, leaving 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of propellant unburned and Jupiter is "exalted," Recognizing the deficiency, the Centaur stage's on-board computers ordered a burn that was far longer than planned in order to compensate. Centaur extended its own burn and was able to give Voyager 1 the additional velocity it needed.! Pretty freakin cool! And don't even get me started on how such a dignified Mercury at the MC (in a humane and tech-related sign) fits the image of manpower and intellect sending a probe into the deepest regions of space...

And here is the NM when they released the problem of Voyager I in the news on December 12th.
Transiting Mars over natal Neptune and activating the natal T-Square.