2023-04-28 11:00:02
Nasa taps into reserve power
In order to supply the space probes with electricity, each of them is equipped with three thermoelectric radioisotope generators. These convert the heat from the decaying plutonium 238 into electrical energy. However, the generators produce less energy each year as more and more plutonium 238 has already decayed.
So electricity has to be saved. Nevertheless, the five devices on board are allowed to continue collecting important data, as NASA is now tapping into the spacecraft’s reserve power.
It is actually intended as a safety mechanism so that the power supply is guaranteed and there are no voltage fluctuations. However, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is taking this risk: “Although the spacecraft’s voltage is not tightly regulated, the electrical systems of both spacecraft remain relatively stable even following more than 45 years of flight, minimizing the need for a safety net.”
The project scientist Linda Spilker also sees this measure as necessary: “The scientific data provided by the Voyager probes becomes more valuable the farther away they are from the sun. That’s why we are very keen to keep as many scientific instruments operational as possible.”
The risk of a voltage spike is low anyway and so far the new strategy seems to be working, explained Suzanne Dodd. She is the Voyager project manager at JPL and has been observing the two probes with her team for several weeks. The instruments can thus collect further data until 2026.
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