NASA extends Voyager 2 mission lifespan via power-saving maneuver

NASA engineers have successfully extended the operational lifespan of the Voyager 2 spacecraft through a power-saving procedure known as the “Big Bang” maneuver. By disabling a voltage regulator and reconfiguring onboard heating systems, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have preserved enough electricity to keep three scientific instruments operational through 2026.

The Voyager probes rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) that convert heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. This power supply decreases by approximately four watts annually. To combat this decline, the “Big Bang” maneuver involves deactivating high-power legacy components, such as certain heaters and recorders, and replacing them with low-power alternatives to maintain critical temperatures in interstellar space.

Following the success with Voyager 2, NASA is now testing similar power-saving adjustments on Voyager 1 to extend the mission of its remaining two active science instruments. Both probes, launched in 1977, are currently the only human-made objects exploring interstellar space, providing unique data on solar wind, the sun's magnetic field, and interstellar radio emissions.