Voyager's Last Stand: A Desperate Bid to Keep Exploring
The Voyager 2 spacecraft has been running on fumes for years, but NASA engineers have found a way to keep it going for a little while longer. By turning off non-essential devices and using lower-power alternatives, they've managed to conserve energy and keep the spacecraft warm. This is a big deal, because Voyager 2 is now down to just three science instruments, and it looked like it would have to shut down another one soon. But thanks to the power shift, all three instruments will be able to keep operating for at least another year.
The Voyager 2 spacecraft has been traveling through space for 48 years, and it's still going strong. It was launched in 1977, along with its twin Voyager 1, and it's been sending back valuable data and images ever since. But as the years go by, the spacecraft's power supply is dwindling. It uses a form of nuclear battery called a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, which produces heat from the decay of plutonium. However, the supply of plutonium is running low, and the spacecraft's power requirements are getting tighter and tighter.
The engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have been working hard to find ways to conserve energy and keep the spacecraft running. They've turned off non-essential devices and systems, and they're using lower-power alternatives to keep the spacecraft warm. This is a big challenge, because the spacecraft is so far away from the sun that it needs to be kept warm in order to function properly. But thanks to the power shift, Voyager 2 will be able to keep exploring for a little while longer.
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is also facing similar challenges, but it's a bit further away from Earth than its twin. It's nearing 171 astronomical units, which is a huge distance. But despite the challenges, the engineers at NASA are working hard to keep both spacecraft running. They're using a technique called the "Big Bang" power change, which involves reducing the power requirements of the spacecraft. This is a big deal, because it will allow both spacecraft to keep operating for a little while longer.
The Voyager spacecraft were launched in 1977 to take advantage of a rare alignment between the outer solar system gas giant planets. They flew past Jupiter and Saturn, taking unprecedented imagery of the planets and their moons. Voyager 1 was then directed to fly above the plane of the solar system, while Voyager 2 continued flying past Uranus and Neptune. Voyager 2's last planetary flyby was in 1989, but it's still sending back valuable data and images today.