Voyager 1 Still Runs on 1970s Hardware as It Reaches Interstellar Space

Voyager 1 is controlled by three redundant, 1970s-era computer subsystems with only tens of kilobytes of memory and an effective 8,000-instruction-per-second pace. Yet its longevity is by design: compact, interrupt‑driven software with autonomous fault protection, plus power from decaying plutonium, keeps the probe alive nearly 50 years after launch while Earth handles navigation and data. As of 2026, two science instruments remain active despite energy constraints, illustrating that reliability and longevity trump raw speed in deep-space missions.