NASA Extends Voyager 2 Mission by Powering Down Plasma Instrument

Traveling more than 12.8 billion miles (20.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, Voyager 2 continues its remarkable journey through space. Equipped with four science instruments, the spacecraft is dedicated to studying the region beyond our heliosphere, the protective bubble created by the sun. Despite its vast distance, Voyager 2 still has enough power to conduct scientific exploration well into the 2030s.

Mission engineers have been diligent in their efforts to prolong the operation of Voyager 2's science instruments. The data collected by the twin Voyager probes is unparalleled, as no other human-made spacecraft has ventured into interstellar space. This unique vantage point offers valuable insights into the mysteries of the universe.

One of the key instruments onboard Voyager 2 is the plasma science instrument, which measures the amount of electrically charged atoms in space and their directional flow. While the instrument has faced challenges in recent years due to its orientation relative to the plasma flow in interstellar space, it has provided valuable data that enhances our understanding of this remote region.

Both Voyager spacecraft are powered by decaying plutonium, gradually losing power at a rate of about 4 watts per year. Following their exploration of the giant planets in the 1980s, the mission team made strategic decisions to conserve power by deactivating non-essential science instruments. These measures ensured that the spacecraft had ample power reserves until recent years.

As part of their ongoing efforts to extend the mission's lifespan, the team recently made the decision to power down the plasma science instrument on Voyager 2. This command was transmitted to the spacecraft by NASA's Deep Space Network, with a round-trip communication delay of 38 hours. Despite these operational adjustments, Voyager 2 continues to pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries in the realm of interstellar space.