NASA investigates Voyager 1 communication loss and thruster anomaly

NASA engineers are investigating a 48-hour communication loss with the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which occurred on October 18 and 19. The probe, located approximately 24 billion kilometers from Earth, regained its signal on October 20 before any corrective commands were sent by mission control.

Preliminary findings indicate that a group of thrusters stopped functioning, triggering an automatic fault protection system. This system transitioned the spacecraft into a safe, stable configuration and paused normal operations. The backup thrusters were activated during this process.

This incident follows a successful energy-saving initiative completed in September, known as the “Big Bang” project. During this effort, engineers replaced three devices with more energy-efficient alternatives to extend the mission's lifespan as the probe's plutonium-based power supply continues to decline.