NASA to keep its 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe running for yet another year
NASA engineers have successfully extended the operational life of the 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe by implementing power-saving measures. By shutting down non-essential systems, the team is managing the spacecraft's dwindling nuclear power supply to keep its remaining science instruments functional.
Why it matters
This mission represents a historic achievement in deep-space exploration, maintaining the only human-made objects currently operating in interstellar space.
Missions Voyager NASA figured out how to keep its 48-year-old Voyager 2 probe running for yet another year News By Elizabeth Howell Published 7 August 2026 Voyager 2 would have had to shut down one of its last remaining instruments later this year, until NASA made some power changes.
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Click for next article An artist's depiction of NASA's Voyager 2 probe. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter NASA just made an interstellar tweak to the Voyager 2 spacecraft, known as the "Big Bang", to keep its remaining 50-year-old science instruments running a little longer.
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