NASA has shut down the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment (LECP) on Voyager 1 to conserve power and extend the spacecraft's mission.
The nearly 49-year-old instrument provided critical data on charged particles in interstellar space and was next on a pre-determined shutdown list.
With only two science instruments still active, engineers hope the move will buy time for further energy-saving measures to prolong Voyager operations.
Why is Voyager 2 outperforming its twin, operating more science instruments as Voyager 1 powers down?
With a key instrument dark, what secrets of interstellar space might Voyager 1 now miss forever?
As Voyager 1 fades, is our aging Deep Space Network capable of hearing its final whispers?
With Voyager's plutonium fuel decaying, is America's new supply chain ready for future deep space ambitions?
Could new nuclear fuels like Americium-241 have prevented this shutdown and powered missions for centuries?
Can the ambitious 'Big Bang' fix truly save humanity's farthest probe from its slow power death?
Voyager 1 Shuts Down LECP Instrument to Save Power and Extend Mission into the 2030s
Overview
Due to the steady decline in power from their aging radioisotope generators, NASA engineers have been carefully managing Voyager 1 and 2's limited energy by shutting down non-essential instruments. On April 17, 2026, Voyager 1's Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) instrument was permanently turned off to save power and prevent critical system failures, leaving only the Plasma Wave Subsystem and Magnetometer active. This follows Voyager 2's LECP shutdown in 2025 and precedes its planned Cosmic Ray Subsystem shutdown later in 2026. To further extend mission life, NASA plans a major 'Big Bang' power-saving maneuver starting with Voyager 2, aiming to keep these historic spacecraft operational until around 2035 while maximizing scientific return.