NASA engineers have shut off one of Voyager 2’s science instruments in order to save the rest of the mission.
Engineers sent a message on September 26 ordering Voyager 2’s computer to cut power to the plasma science instrument, which up until now had measured how charged particles (plasma) flowed through the space around Voyager 2. By sacrificing the plasma science instrument, engineers managed to save enough power to keep the spacecraft’s remaining four science instruments running — and communicating with Earth. Voyager 2 should make it into the 2030s with at least one instrument sending home data about what lies beyond our Solar System, according to NASA, but there are more tough decisions ahead.
