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NASA Extends Voyager 2 Mission by One Year Through Power-Saving Measures
Key points
- Voyager 2's mission extended by one year.
- Power-saving measures called "Big Bang" implemented.
- Three science instruments will continue operating.
- Spacecraft relies on a radioisotope thermoelectric generator.
- Power supply decreases by four watts annually.
Voyager 2 Mission Extended
NASA has extended the operational life of the Voyager 2 spacecraft by at least one year through new power-saving adjustments. The probe, launched in 1977, has been in space for nearly 50 years and continues to transmit data from interstellar space.
The "Big Bang" Operation
The recent changes, referred to as the "Big Bang" operation, involved reconfiguring the spacecraft's power usage. Engineers turned off several non-science devices and replaced them with lower-power alternatives. This strategy ensures the spacecraft remains warm enough to function while conserving energy.
Addressing Dwindling Power
Voyager 2, like its twin Voyager 1, is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which converts heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. The plutonium supply depletes over time, causing the spacecraft to lose approximately four watts of power each year. This continuous power reduction has led to the deactivation of several science instruments over the years.
Maintaining Scientific Operations
Before these adjustments, Voyager 2 had 10 functional scientific instruments at launch, now reduced to three. The "Big Bang" operation was crucial to prevent the shutdown of another instrument later this year, allowing the remaining three to continue collecting data for an additional year.
Managed by JPL
The Voyager mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The team continues to monitor the spacecraft's power margins, which have become increasingly thin, necessitating careful energy conservation.
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How outlets covered it
NASA implemented a software update for the Voyager 2 probe, extending its operational lifespan by one year. This update, called "Big Bang," involved reconfiguring power usage to allow its three remaining scientific instruments to continue functioning.
NASA engineers implemented power-saving measures on the Voyager 2 spacecraft, allowing its remaining three science instruments to operate for at least another year. This adjustment, dubbed the "Big Bang," addresses the probe's dwindling power supply from its radioisotope thermoelectric generator.