NASA shuts down key instrument on Voyager 1 to extend deep space mission

NASA has powered down a major science instrument aboard Voyager 1 as engineers work to extend the lifespan of the most distant human-made object, now more than 25 billion kilometres from Earth.

The decision, made by specialists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), involved shutting off the spacecraft’s Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment, which has operated continuously since the probe’s launch in 1977, BBC writes.

Voyager 1, currently traveling through interstellar space beyond the Solar System, continues to transmit scientific data back to Earth. However, declining power levels have forced mission managers to gradually deactivate instruments to keep the spacecraft operational for as long as possible.

The LECP instrument has played a critical role in studying charged particles and cosmic rays originating both from within the Solar System and across the Milky Way. Its data has helped scientists better understand the structure and dynamics of the interstellar medium—the vast region between stars—detecting variations in particle density and pressure beyond the heliosphere, the Sun’s protective bubble.

Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, remain the only spacecraft to have entered interstellar space, providing unique insights into this largely unexplored environment.

Both probes are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which convert heat from decaying plutonium into electricity. According to NASA, each spacecraft loses about four watts of power annually, leaving engineers with limited energy reserves to sustain operations.

Following a drop in Voyager 1’s power levels on 27 February 2026, mission controllers determined that shutting down the LECP instrument was necessary.

“While shutting down a science instrument is not anybody’s preference, it is the best option available,” said Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager at JPL. He noted that two science instruments remain active, measuring plasma waves and magnetic fields, and continue to return valuable data from deep space.

NASA said commands to deactivate the instrument take approximately 23 hours to reach the spacecraft due to its vast distance from Earth. A small motor associated with the LECP will remain functional, allowing for a potential restart if additional power becomes available.

The shutdown follows a pre-planned sequence of instrument deactivations. Of the original ten instrument systems onboard each Voyager spacecraft, seven have already been turned off. Voyager 2’s LECP instrument was shut down in March 2025.

Looking ahead, engineers may implement further power-saving measures, including a strategy known as the “Big Bang,” which involves simultaneously switching off multiple systems and replacing them with lower-power alternatives.

Launched in 1977, the Voyager mission marked humanity’s first “grand tour” of the outer planets. Voyager 1 conducted flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, while Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, returning unprecedented images and data that transformed scientific understanding of the Solar System.

Voyager 1 officially entered interstellar space on 25 August 2012, followed by Voyager 2 on 5 November 2018. More than four decades after launch, both spacecraft continue to operate, offering a rare glimpse into a region of space no other human-made object has reached.

By Sabina Mammadli