NASA extends Voyager 2's life with a Big Bang power tweak
TL;DR Summary
NASA has trimmed Voyager 2's power needs by shutting off nonessential systems and using lower-power equipment on its plutonium-powered RTG, allowing the probe's remaining three science instruments to operate for at least another year despite razor-thin power margins; two instruments were already disabled since 2024, and Voyager 1 will receive the same power tweak soon. The spacecraft continue to transmit interstellar data, with Voyager 2 about 142 AU and Voyager 1 about 171 AU from Earth, and signals taking roughly 24 hours to reach us.
- NASA figured out how to keep its 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe running for yet another year Space
- ‘Big Bang’ fix boosts Voyager 2’s mission in interstellar space CNN
- How NASA is powering the Voyager 2 probe from a galaxy away Mashable
- NASA Engineers Help Prolong Voyager 2’s Science Mission NASA Science (.gov)
- NASA grants Voyager 2 probe another year of power with risky 'Big Bang' maneuver. Now, will it work for Voyager 1? Live Science
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