Launched in 1977, the twin Voyager probes have transformed our understanding of the Solar System, providing unprecedented views of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. Now, 47 years later, both spacecraft continue to explore the uncharted territories of interstellar space.
Voyager 1, at a staggering distance of 24.9 billion kilometers, holds the title of the most distant human-made object from Earth. It carries a gold disc containing humanity's history, intended for any potential extraterrestrial intelligence it may encounter.
Despite their remarkable longevity, the Voyager team faces increasing challenges in maintaining the probes' functionality. Recently, Voyager 1 experienced a communication blackout due to dwindling power supplies, prompting engineers to shut down non-essential systems to conserve energy.
Currently, four of the ten scientific instruments onboard Voyager 1 are operational, collecting valuable data about the cosmic environment. Each year, the spacecraft's power reserves diminish, raising concerns about the future of its scientific operations.
“These probes have lasted far longer than anyone anticipated, and it’s remarkable that we are extracting every last bit of energy (and science!) from them,” stated Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
The Voyager probes continuously transmit scientific data via the Deep Space Network, a system of radio antennas on Earth. However, any data sent during the recent transmitter issue was lost, as the probes do not store information onboard.
“The science that Voyager is conducting now is really about the big picture and long-term observations, so the team isn’t overly concerned about this interruption,” Badaruddin added. “The bigger question is how long we can keep the scientific instruments running with the current available power.”