NASA's 'Big Bang' fix extends Voyager 2's mission

TL;DR Summary
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's 'Big Bang' power-management fix on Voyager 2 disables two heaters and a heat-dissipating device while switching on lower-power components, plus a software update so safe-mode includes these devices. The result is about a year of extended data from Voyager 2's three remaining instruments; a similar plan is in place for Voyager 1 with thermal tests by late August. Launched in 1977 and powered by RTGs, both probes remain the farthest active spacecraft from Earth as they traverse interstellar space.
- ‘Big Bang’ fix boosts Voyager 2’s mission in interstellar space CNN
- NASA Engineers Help Prolong Voyager 2’s Science Mission NASA Science (.gov)
- Voyager 2 cheats the power budget for another year The Register
- This ‘Ancient’ Spacecraft Keeps Defying Death—But How Much Longer Will Its Extended Mission Last? The Debrief
- NASA’s ‘Big Bang’ Saves Voyager 2’s Last Three Interstellar Instruments Tech Times
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