Voyager 2 gains extra year of science work after JPL engineers pull off 'big bang' switch

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have extended the scientific mission of the Voyager 2 probe by one more year. To do this, they performed an unconventional switch of onboard systems, which NASA described as a "big bang" — it involved two heaters and another device that had been left on to keep the spacecraft warm.

The challenge is that in deep space, the probe loses heat through radiation, and although a vacuum is not cold by itself, the spacecraft gradually cools down. The heaters not only keep the electronics within a safe operating range but also prevent the fuel lines from freezing, which is essential for attitude adjustments.

The switch freed up some of the rapidly diminishing power from the radioisotope thermoelectric generator. As a result, the extended mission of Voyager 2 has been prolonged by a full year. The JPL team hopes to carry out the same operation on Voyager 1, giving it a similar boost to its expected lifespan before both probes finally go quiet in interstellar space.

The official press release contained very few technical details, so specifics were clarified with a NASA spokesperson through The Register. There, it was confirmed that the operation involved switching the heaters and related equipment.