Scientists extend instrument life on Voyager 2 probe
Voyager 2 captured active plumes rising nearly 8 kilometers, but the single 1989 encounter left scientists with major unanswered questions.
- This week, NASA engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully extended Voyager 2's operational life through a power-saving procedure nicknamed the 'Big Bang,' raising hopes the probe may continue exploring interstellar space into the 2030s.
- The spacecraft's Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators convert decaying plutonium heat into electricity but generate about four fewer watts of power annually, leaving a thin margin that forced mission controllers to shut down instruments.
- To keep Voyager 2 warm enough to operate, engineers swapped devices for lower-power alternatives, including two heaters where 'its residual heat was in the right location,' according to NASA, preventing another instrument shutdown.
- Voyager 2 will keep its three remaining instruments operating for at least an extra year thanks to the power savings; engineers plan to apply the same strategy to Voyager 1, which is even farther from Earth, in the coming months.
- Launched nearly 50 years ago, the twin probes represent NASA's longest-running missions and now immersed in interstellar space, they continue relaying valuable scientific data back to Earth, revealing conditions beyond the sun's influence.
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9 Articles
This ‘Ancient’ Spacecraft Keeps Defying Death—But How Much Longer Will Its Extended Mission Last?
Welcome to this edition of The Intelligence Brief… This week, NASA engineers successfully extended the operational life of the iconic Voyager 2 spacecraft through a carefully orchestrated power-saving procedure, raising new hopes that the legendary probe may continue exploring interstellar space well into the 2030s. In our analysis, we’ll examine 1) how engineers carried out the ambitious “Big Bang” operation to conserve the spacecraft’s dwindli…
Voyager 2 cheats the power budget for another year
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have eked out a little more life for instruments aboard the veteran Voyager 2 probe thanks to a power-saving effort called the "Big Bang." The procedure involved switching several powered devices at once, turning some off and replacing others with lower-power alternatives while keeping the spacecraft warm enough to function. We don't envy whoever had to press the Send button and then wait to discover…
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