NASA Shuts Down Another Piece of Voyager 1 to Extend Its Interstellar Mission
Published on April 28, 2026.
NASA's Voyager 1 probe has shut down another instrument, the Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment, in an effort to extend its mission. The decision was made after Voyager 1 experienced an unexpected drop in power on Feb. 27th during a planned roll maneuver. The LECP experiment was used to study solar wind and the interstellar medium (ISM). Voyager 1 uses three Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which convert heat from decaying Plutonium-238 into electricity. The power output of Voyager 1's RTGs has been declining by about 4 watts per year, and as of April 2026, they are producing less than half their original power. The remaining operating science instruments, one of which listens to plasma waves and one that measures magnetic fields, are still working.
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