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The twin Voyager Probes are expected to move beyond the range of NASA’s Deep Space Network by 2036.
Illustration of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. (Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)).
New Delhi: The twin Voyager probes, are ageing and are both encountering problems. The two probes were launched in 1977, and have been working continuously since then. After encountering some communications issues, NASA has recently managed to use an old, less-powerful radio to establish communications with Voyager 1. The fuel lines to the thrusters are clogging up, with NASA swapping the thrusters on Voyager 1 to extend the mission last month. Earlier in the year, the ground teams also managed to resolve a software glitch, after fixing another communications hardware error that caused the spacecraft to relay corrupted data home. Late last year, the Voyager 1 Spacecraft also developed a transmission issue, that was fixed in April this year, after a blackout period of five months.
Where the Voyager probes are, and where they are headed. (Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Z. Levay (STScI)).
NASA has been encountering similar problems with the Voyager 2 spacecraft as well, with the fuel supply lines to the thrusters getting clogged up as well. NASA actually shut down a plasma science instrument on Voyager 2 last year, to extend the life of the mission. In August, NASA managed to reestablish communications with the spacecraft, by fixing a pointing issue with antenna. Earlier in the year, ground teams formulated a plan that allows for the Voyager 2 mission to continue capturing measurements for longer. NASA is committed to extending the lives of the twin Voyager spacecraft to the greatest extent possible.
Time is running out
However, time is running out for both the ageing spacecraft, that are now struggling. The spacecraft is powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) units, that generate about 4 watts of power less every year. After NASA turned off the Plasma instrument on Voyager 2 in September, four instruments on each spacecraft remain operational. NASA intends to continue operating at least one science instrument on both the spacecraft till at least 2025. NASA plans to collect engineering data after all the science instruments are turned off. Beyond that, the two probes will continue to remain within range of NASA’s Deep Space Network till 2036.
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