On the same day NASA makes a historic encounter with Mars, one of Man's earliest rockets is setting it's own truly historic record.

In the last week, Voyager 1, which floated into the heavens in 1977, has signalled it has passed two of the 'key changes' expected when it passes out of the furthest fringes of our solar system - a staggering 11,100,000,000 miles away.

This is the furthest distance any man-made object has ever travelled - and on July 28th, it's long and arduous journey was broken by cosmic changes

Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, were launched in 1977

This is the “Golden Record” which is attached to both Voyager 1 & 2. It is a time capsule of sorts, intended to communicate the story of our species and our home planet to extraterrestrials