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Rtg Power

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space2 months ago•12 min saved

Voyager 1 Gets a Lifeline: NASA Tests Power-Saving Swap on Dying Probe

NASA is testing a ‘Big Bang’ style power-swap on Voyager 1 to extend its life by turning off several aging loads and swapping in lower-power components, following a successful upgrade on Voyager 2. Voyager 1 now has only two instruments left (magnetometer and plasma wave) and sits farther away than Voyager 2, about 25 billion km vs. 21 billion km. If the thermal test is successful, the change could free enough power to potentially re-enable the Low-energy Charged Particles instrument; however, the plan remains cautious since commands take roughly a day to reach Earth and back.

via Space Daily|

#big-bang-power-swap #nasa #rtg-power

science2 months ago•54 min saved

Voyager 1 Remains Earth's Far-Flung Messenger Despite Power Woes

NASA's Voyager 1, launched in 1977, remains the farthest human-made object and still sends data from interstellar space. Its plutonium RTGs are decaying, so JPL is rationing power by turning off nonessential instruments and managing heaters to keep critical systems like the thruster lines warm. Signals take about 23 hours to travel from Voyager 1 to Earth, meaning a response would take a full day, and the team hopes to keep the mission alive into the 2030s while the golden record aboard continues to carry humanity's greetings into the cosmos.

via Yahoo|

#interstellar-space #jpl #nasa

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Voyager 1: A 50-Year Space Messenger Still Reaching Earth, With Replies Taking Almost a Day

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, remains the farthest and oldest human-made spacecraft, still transmitting data from interstellar space as its power wanes. NASA/JPL plans to extend its life by conserving energy and reforming heating to keep the system functioning into the 2030s, a move nicknamed “Big Bang.” Signals now take about 23 hours to reach Earth, with Voyager about 15.85 billion miles away, nearing one light-day, and carrying the Golden Record of humanity for any future cosmic listeners.

via Jalopnik|

#interstellar-space #nasa-jpl #rtg-power