More than four decades have passed since Voyager 2, launched in 1977, began its journey through the German solar system.
NASA has developed a new power strategy for Voyager 2 to keep it running and collect important scientific data as it continues its journey in interstellar space. In this post, we will talk about how NASA’s creative strategy helped this historic spaceship live longer and fulfill its goal of exploration and discovery.
The challenge of energy management
Voyager 2’s power source is becoming depleted as the sun grows darker. The probe uses radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to convert radioactive decay heat into energy. The efficiency of these generators is reduced as time, reducing the amount of energy available for the probe systems and equipment. To maintain the probe’s scientific capabilities and, at the same time, effectively manage its restricted energy supply, NASA engineers must prepare a plan.
New energy strategy for Voyager 2
NASA engineers will extensively examine the power needs of Voyager 2’s scientific instruments and systems to solve the power management problem. We will then draw up a plan to separate the non-essential parts and redirect the electricity for the most important instruments. Voyager 2 can now collect important data about interstellar space while conserving energy for the rest of its life, thanks to this improved energy source.
The implementation has already happened
NASA engineers will extensively examine the power needs of Voyager 2’s scientific instruments and systems to solve the power management problem. We will then draw up a plan to separate the non-essential parts and redirect the electricity for the most important instruments. Voyager 2 can now collect important data about interstellar space while conserving energy for the rest of its life, thanks to this improved energy source.
Continuation of Voyager 2’s legacy
Despite losing two of its crucial instruments, Voyager 2 can still operate its other vital systems due to its new energy strategy. The spacecraft can still investigate interstellar space, offering revealing data about the heliosphere, the magnetic field and the solar wind.
