NASA hopes to get the Voyager spacecraft to their 50th anniversary with clever engineering and difficult choices

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 09:24

This artist's concept shows NASA's Voyager spacecraft against a backdrop of stars. — NASA's Voyager spacecraft are the furthest human-made objects from Earth.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 are the only human-made objects to reach interstellar space.
The two probes launched in 1977 and may soon lose communication with Earth.
NASA hopes to stay in contact with the probes at least until their 50th anniversary in 2027.

In 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1 and 2 for what was meant to be four-year missions. For over 46 years, the pair have been delivering spectacular science far beyond what their first teams of researchers could have hoped.