NASA Powers Down Voyager 2's Plasma Science Instrument to Extend Mission Into 2030s

NASA has made the decision to power down the plasma science instrument on its Voyager 2 spacecraft, as part of efforts to conserve power for the long-running mission. The announcement was made on Tuesday, revealing that the instrument, which measures the flow of charged atoms, was turned off in late September. This strategic move aims to extend the spacecraft's operational lifespan, with expectations to continue exploring until the 2030s.

The decision to shut down the plasma science instrument is part of a series of conservation measures implemented on both Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, which were initially launched to explore the gas giant planets in the 1980s. Currently located in interstellar space, both spacecraft have exceeded their original mission parameters. Notably, Voyager 1's plasma instrument was decommissioned in 2007 after ceasing to function earlier.

Scientific Endeavors Beyond the Solar System

Despite the shutdown of the plasma science instrument, four remaining instruments on Voyager 2 will continue to collect vital information about magnetic fields and particles. These instruments are tasked with studying the regions of space situated beyond the protective influence of the sun's bubble.

Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 holds the distinction of being the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune, significantly contributing to our understanding of the outer planets. As of now, it is located over 12 billion miles (19.31 billion kilometers) from Earth, while its twin, Voyager 1, has ventured even farther at over 15 billion miles (24.14 billion kilometers) from our planet.