Voyager 1 Runs 2 Science Instruments as 4-Watt Annual Power Loss Forces More Shutdowns
Updated
Updated · ScienceBlog.com · Jul 12
Voyager 1 Runs 2 Science Instruments as 4-Watt Annual Power Loss Forces More Shutdowns
2 articles · Updated · ScienceBlog.com · Jul 12
Summary
NASA’s 2026 status shows Voyager 1 now operating only two science instruments—the magnetometer and plasma wave subsystem—after the low-energy charged particles instrument was shut off on April 17.
Roughly 4 watts of power vanish each year as the spacecraft’s plutonium RTGs decay and age, forcing engineers to trade instruments and heaters against core needs such as communications and attitude control.
The latest cuts follow the cosmic ray subsystem’s shutdown on Feb. 25, 2025, leaving Voyager 1 with 2 active instruments out of its original 10-instrument science payload.
Those remaining sensors still measure magnetic fields and plasma waves beyond the heliopause, preserving rare direct sampling of interstellar space by the most distant operating spacecraft from Earth.
Voyager 1, launched in 1977 and in interstellar space since 2012, is due to reach 1 light-day from Earth on Nov. 18, 2026.
After 50 years, can NASA's 'Big Bang' fix give the aging Voyager 1 a new lease on life in deep space?
What final secrets can Voyager 1 reveal before its half-century journey into the void ends in silence?
With a 48-hour delay, how do engineers perform remote surgery on a probe 25 billion kilometers from Earth?
Voyager 1’s 2026 Milestones: Instrument Shutdowns, “Big Bang” Power Strategy, and the Future of Deep Space Science
Overview
On April 17, 2026, engineers shut down Voyager 1’s Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment to conserve its dwindling power supply. This action is part of a carefully planned, long-term strategy that determines the order in which instruments are turned off, aiming to keep Voyager 1 collecting unique scientific data for as long as possible. The LECP shutdown, following seven previous instrument deactivations, is expected to give the spacecraft about one more year of operation. This systematic approach helps extend Voyager 1’s mission, even as its power continues to decline after decades in space.