Scientists extend instrument life on Voyager 2 probe

Space Scientists extend instrument life on Voyager 2 probe Comments: by Steph Whiteside - 08/07/26 2:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Steph Whiteside - 08/07/26 2:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NewsNation) — NASA has extended the life of Voyager 2 after freeing up power from the space probe’s dwindling power supply.

The effort was nicknamed the “Big Bang” by scientists with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who worked to turn off certain powered devices and substitute them with lower-power alternatives while ensuring the spacecraft is still warm enough to operate.

Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 was dispatched to study the outer planets of the solar system. Along with its sister craft, Voyager 1, the probe is now traveling through interstellar space.

Both Voyagers are powered by devices that convert heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. As the plutonium supply depletes, the probes lose about four watts of power per year. Nearly 50 years after launch, the power margins have grown thin, the team shutting off non-essential systems to conserve energy.

Two of Voyager 2’s instruments had previously been turned off due to lower power. Prior to the Big Bang solution, the mission would have had to shut off another instrument by the end of the year.

Now, the probe’s three instruments should be able to continue operating for at least one extra year.

There are plans to perform the same swap on Voyager 1 in coming months.

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