The spacecraft are now leaving our solar system, having travelled for over 30 years. They are still doing valuable work and have just made a discovery concerning the outer edge of the magnetic influence of our sun. It has been a revelation to scientists, but that is somewhat complex magnetic physics dealing with words like 'heliosphere' and 'heliosheath'. These craft have established a few records, one of which is that they are now the third and forth satellites to leave the solar system. The first two were Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, which were launched in 1972 and 1973. The two Voyagers were launched just days apart, in 1977, and have turned out to be among the most successful space adventures ever. In the case of the Pioneers, they each carried a small metal plaque with a message from us earthlings to any intelligent being who might find the spacecraft out in space one day. The plaques were designed with a mathematical code that intelligent beings would be able to crack.

It doesn't seem nearly that long ago ... must be some sort of time dilation ...