JPL plans to test the change on Voyager 2 in May and June, then on Voyager 1 in summer, potentially delaying the shutdown of one science instrument on each craft by at least a year.
The manoeuvre replaces three fuel-line heating devices with three alternatives that keep thruster lines warm while using almost 10 watts less power.
Launched in 1977, the nuclear-powered probes lose about four watts annually and now have only a handful of instruments operating as they continue sending data from interstellar space.
Could a risky power-up maneuver bring Voyager 1's recently silenced scientific instrument back from the dead?
With one instrument already sacrificed, is NASA's 'Big Bang' power gamble on Voyager a risk worth taking?
Extending Voyager’s Legacy: Power Challenges, Instrument Shutdowns, and the "Big Bang" Maneuver in 2026
Overview
Voyager 1, after more than 47 years in space, is facing serious technical challenges as its power supply continues to decline. In February 2026, NASA engineers had to make tough choices about which instruments to keep running, leading to the shutdown of the LECP instrument to save energy and extend the mission by about a year. This decision, made for the benefit of all humanity, highlights the growing difficulty of maintaining the spacecraft’s temperature as power drops. The careful management of Voyager 1’s limited resources shows the ongoing effort to keep this historic mission alive.