The fate of Voyager 2 has been delayed as NASA discovered a means to hijack
a backup power source to keep the spacecraft operating until 2026.
During their 45-year space mission, Voyagers 1 and 2 have provided
significant scientific data.
The probes are currently 12 and 14 billion kilometers from Earth out in
interstellar space. This is farther than any spaceship or other artificial
object has ever traveled.
According to
Linda Spilker, project scientist for the Voyager spacecraft at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Southern California, the science data that the Voyagers are
returning becomes more significant the farther away from the sun they
go.
"We are definitely interested in keeping as many science instruments
operating as long as possible."
For 45 years, the probes have been in motion.
In 1977, Voyager 1 and 2 launched one month apart. Initially, the probes
were planned to go on a four-year journey to travel by Saturn and
Jupiter.
They were launched carrying a
"golden record"
that included data that would enlighten extraterrestrials about Earth.
However, the probes continued to perform better than anticipated, and NASA
continued to
extend their missions, first to travel to Neptune and Uranus, then to travel farther than any
other probe: past the heliosphere.
A bubble of particles and magnetic fields that radiates from the sun is
called the heliosphere. Because it shields us from cosmic radiation from the
galaxy, this sphere is especially crucial for Earth.
Since the probes are currently outside of this heliosphere, their
measurements offer previously unobtainable details about the bubble's
characteristics, such as its shape and its protective function.
The antique probe's power system was hijacked by NASA.
Generators that turn heat from decaying plutonium into energy power the
probes. NASA engineers have forced to turn off non-essential equipment,
including the probes' cameras and heaters, to save power as this energy
source becomes less reliable.
However, as Voyager 2 was approaching the end of its energy supply, NASA
engineers devised a cunning trick that would help it live a little while
longer.
They discovered a technique to redirect electricity from a safety feature
meant to activate in the event that the probes' circuit fails due to voltage
fluctuations.
"Variable voltages pose a risk to the instruments, but we've determined
that it's a small risk, and the alternative offers a big reward of being
able to keep the science instruments turned on longer," Suzanne Dodd,
Voyager's project manager at JPL, stated in a news statement.
After a few weeks of satellite tracking, it appears that the new strategy
is effective.
It could be used by NASA aboard Voyager 1. Voyager 1 hasn't been consuming
as much power as Voyager 2 since one of its instruments had before
malfunctioned.
The space agency has stated that the decision to turn down Voyager 1's
equipment would be taken the following year.
This article was originally published by
Business Insider.
