Introduction
NASA has shut down some energy-intensive systems and activated lower-consumption alternatives to extend the life of Voyager 2, which has been operating for approximately 50 years and is located approximately 21 billion kilometers from Earth. Thanks to the “Big Bang” operation, the probe’s three functioning scientific instruments have been enabled to send data at least until next year.
Developments
Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 became the only spacecraft to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Details
NASA had announced that the probe entered interstellar space in 2018. However, because its plutonium source is depleting, electricity generation is declining by approximately 4 watts each year, and new energy-saving measures will be needed in the coming years.