NASA powers down Voyager 2 instrument as iconic spacecraft fights to stay alive

NASA engineers have taken a tough call to conserve energy on the legendary Voyager 2 spacecraft, shutting down one of its key science experiments as the probe continues its journey 13 billion miles from Earth.

On September 26, mission control powered down the Plasma Science (PLS) experiment, which has been instrumental in studying solar winds, in an effort to prolong the spacecraft’s life.

The message, sent through the Deep Space Network’s powerful radio antennas, took 19 hours to reach Voyager 2, with confirmation arriving 19 hours later. Despite dwindling power reserves, NASA remains optimistic that Voyager 2 will continue to function with at least one science instrument well into the 2030s.

“Mission engineers have taken steps to avoid turning off a science instrument for as long as possible because the science data collected by the twin Voyager probes is unique,” NASA explained in a statement. “No other human-made spacecraft has operated in interstellar space, the region outside the heliosphere.”

Launched 47 years ago, Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators that convert the heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. However, as the plutonium supply dwindles, NASA has periodically had to shut down instruments to extend the spacecraft’s operational life.

The PLS experiment, featuring plasma detectors that study the flow of ions and electrons from the sun, played a crucial role in 2018 when it confirmed Voyager 2 had crossed into interstellar space. Although the spacecraft’s orientation now limits data collection, it continues to provide valuable insights into the unexplored region beyond the heliosphere.

As NASA navigates these power challenges, the space agency acknowledges the historical significance of the Voyager mission, which remains humanity’s furthest-reaching exploration effort.