NASA Gives Voyager 2 New Life with Backup Power and Extended Mission
NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft will continue its operations for years longer than anticipated with a new power strategy. The spacecraft's backup reservoir of power will keep it in space until at least 2026 instead of this year. Voyager 2 and its twin Voyager 1 are the only spacecraft that have ever operated outside of the Earth's heliosphere. Scientists turned off the heaters and other non-essential systems on both of the spacecrafts to preserve power and were able to tap into the backup power reservoir.