NASA’s Voyager 2 survives daring ‘big bang’ maneuver
After 49 years in space, NASA’s Voyagers are running low on power—but an audacious move should extend the tenures of the two spacecraft
NASA's Voyager 2 has successfully completed a daring maneuver dubbed "big bang," extending the life of the spacecraft by two years. The probe, launched in 1977, has been experiencing declining power due to the decay of its plutonium-based nuclear power source. As the power dwindles, NASA has been forced to gradually disable scientific instruments to maintain the mission.
However, engineers devised a risky procedure involving the simultaneous shutdown of three devices while turning on three others to reduce power demand by nearly 10 watts per year. This maneuver, cleared during May and June, successfully reduced power consumption without freezing critical components. Voyager 2 is now expected to continue operating for another two years, allowing it to break records and reach significant milestones in space. The same strategy will be employed on Voyager 1 in the coming weeks.
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- NASA grants Voyager 2 probe another year of power with risky 'Big Bang' maneuver. Now, will it work for Voyager 1? r.smartbrief.com
