The Voyager 2 mission has been extended by two years, with the next instrument shutdown now postponed until after 2027 and into 2028. This extension is a result of engineers implementing a new power management strategy, according to Suzanne Dodd, Project Manager for the Voyager project.
The strategy, known as the 'Big Bang' idea, involves switching multiple spacecraft systems simultaneously. This approach aims to gain power while also generating enough heat to keep electronics and propellant lines warm, a challenge when turning systems off sequentially.
Extensive testing on Earth and in orbit was conducted to validate the power and thermal models. Commands sent to Voyager 2, which can take up to 20 hours to reach the spacecraft, confirmed the new configuration's effectiveness. The permanent configuration was executed on the spacecraft on 9 July.
Engineers are now updating their models after observing that the temperature drop was less than predicted. A similar power update is planned for Voyager 1, and there are discussions about potentially reactivating some instruments that were previously shut down on both spacecraft to conserve power.