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A 1977 Time Capsule, Voyager 1 runs on 69 KB of memory and an 8-track tape recorder
(techfixated.com)
this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2026
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Why 8 tracks? They always sucked, even when they were in their prime. Cassettes were always the far superior format in every way.
The only advantage an 8 track might have is that it was on a loop, so it would repeat by being on a single hub, and, spooling out from the center, and regathering on the outside. That required a dry lubricant on the back of the tape, that would eventually wear off, and the tape would jam up. It was even more prevalent with longer than average albums, like double albums (White Album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, etc.).
I guarantee that that 8-track loop jammed up decades ago.
So theres not enough magnetism out there to negatively affect the recordings?
The “8 Track” in Voyager is not your standard 8 track, it’s a DTR and is arranged differently than the consumer tape cartridge for music. It was shut down about a decade ago, not because it was failing, but because of the power requirements.
FWIW, 8 tracks were pretty good sound for the time. Previously there was no portable music unless you brought a record player with you. They got passed up quickly by the cassette, though.