NASA Extends Voyager Mission by Turning Off Science Instruments

NASA has decided to extend the Voyager mission by turning off two of the spacecraft’s science instruments, a move aimed at conserving energy and prolonging the mission. The decision was made by mission engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. They turned off the cosmic ray subsystem experiment on Voyager 1 in February and are set to deactivate Voyager 2’s low-energy charged particle instrument in March. Despite these shutdowns, three science instruments on each spacecraft will remain operational.

Launched in 1977, the Voyager probes have been powered by a radioisotope system that generates electricity from decaying plutonium. However, as the power supply diminishes by about 4 watts annually, NASA had to take action to ensure the mission’s continuity. Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at JPL, emphasized the need to conserve power to prolong the Voyagers’ scientific endeavors.

Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 carry ten science instruments, with some being turned off after completing their exploration of the solar system’s gas giants. The decision to deactivate certain instruments was based on their significance in studying the heliosphere and interstellar space. Voyager 1 entered interstellar space in 2012, followed by Voyager 2 in 2018, marking a historic achievement as no other human-made spacecraft has reached this realm.

In a bid to maximize the mission’s longevity, engineers plan to switch off additional instruments gradually while ensuring that essential scientific data collection continues. Voyager 1 will maintain operations of its magnetometer and plasma wave subsystem, while Voyager 2 will continue with its magnetic field and plasma wave instruments. The shutdown of these instruments is expected to extend the Voyagers’ mission into the 2030s.

Despite the challenges posed by the Voyagers’ extensive journey, with Voyager 1 located over 15 billion miles away and Voyager 2 over 13 billion miles from Earth, NASA remains committed to extracting valuable scientific insights from these distant spacecraft. Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL, highlighted the significance of the Voyagers’ pioneering exploration and the ongoing efforts to ensure their continued operation.

As NASA pushes the boundaries of space exploration, the Voyager mission stands as a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance in unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. The decision to extend the mission by conserving power underscores NASA’s dedication to maximizing the scientific potential of these iconic spacecraft.