Nasa is shutting down the Voyager space probes after 44 years

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

It’s the end of an era as Nasa prepares to shut down the Voyager probes, which made it deeper into space than any manmade object in history.

Both probes launched in 1977 with Voyager 2 launching two weeks before Voyager 1 on September 5.

More than a decade later, the epic journeys of these probes are due to come to an end as the American space agency starts switching off their systems, as reported by Scientific American.

The probes launched 45 years ago have pushed the boundaries of space exploration going beyond their initial mission.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nasa-is-shutting-down-the-voyager-space-probes-after-44-years/ar-AAYJHJx

[IngridsLittleAngel]

1. Why?

There were still at least 4 more to launch.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. I thought about the Star Trek movie when I posted the article

[hatrack]

6. I'd imagine because they're running out of power . . .

https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/details.php?article_id=124

You can get updates on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 at JPL:

https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

EDIT

Voyager 1's twin, Voyager 2 (currently 12.1 billion miles, or 19.5 billion kilometers, from Earth), continues to operate normally.

Launched in 1977, both Voyagers have operated far longer than mission planners expected, and are the only spacecraft to collect data in interstellar space. The information they provide from this region has helped drive a deeper understanding of the heliosphere, the diffuse barrier the Sun creates around the planets in our solar system.

Each spacecraft produces about 4 fewer watts of electrical power a year, limiting the number of systems the craft can run. The mission engineering team has switched off various subsystems and heaters in order to reserve power for science instruments and critical systems. No science instruments have been turned off yet as a result of the diminishing power, and the Voyager team is working to keep the two spacecraft operating and returning unique science beyond 2025.

While the engineers continue to work at solving the mystery that Voyager 1 has presented them, the mission's scientists will continue to make the most of the data coming down from the spacecraft's unique vantage point.

EDIT

https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/details.php?article_id=124

[IngridsLittleAngel]

7. I know that's why

But as a Trekkie, I had to point out how the program is being shut down before they ever launched Voyager 6.

[hatrack]

9. Highly logical!

[Solly Mack]

21. My first thought.

[Trueblue1968]

27. Little Angel ---- your question is MY QUESTION. wHY THE HELL-O IS NASA DOING THIS

[IngridsLittleAngel]

28. Maybe they think if they don't launch Voyager 6, V'Ger won't show up in about 250 years?

[MerryHolidays]

2. No! Say it isn't so!

Voyagers, you have been wonderful! Have a great time on eternal journey, and we thank you so much.

[rsdsharp]

4. More than a decade later, the epic journeys of these probes are due to come to an end.

Yeah, I’d say 45 years is “more than a decade” after the launches.

[samnsara]

5. nooooooooo :(

[Deuxcents]

8. Why shut them down?

I’m happy to pay taxes for these n the Hubble..keep them as long as we can

[moonshinegnomie]

13. the really dont have a choice

the probes use a plutonium source for power. (not bomb grade). as time passes the plutonium provides less and less power.
they have to shut off instruments so there enough power for the remaining ones. they are reaching a point where theres not enough power to operate any of them. If i remember correctly they are losing 4-5 watts of power every year.

the Plutonium they use PU-238 has a half life of about 88 years so over 1/ 2 of what they started with has already decayed

[Deuxcents]

17. Thank you for an easy to understand explanation..

Time goes by so fast..will we be sending other explore vehicles ? Has technology advanced to keep them going longer n farther? I just fascinated by space n the images we get

[moonshinegnomie]

25. Plutonium is the best choice

At least with current technology.
It provides more heat per point then pretty much anything else and it’s the heat that gets converted to electricity

Afaik there are no new deep space probes planned at least for leaving the solar system

[electric_blue68]

10. Aww, noooo! :( Bless you Intrepid Travelers -Voyagers 1&2!

[PCIntern]

11. V-GER is approaching our Solar System and will be uploading

All that it learned to us…

And then….we won’t change a damned thing….

[brush]

12. The OP says Voyager ll was launched before Voyager l.

Why would that be. I read recently that Voyager I crossed over into interstellar space in 2012 and Voyager ll crossed over in 2018.

[Sympthsical]

20. Because of their flight plans and planetary alignments

They named them, then lined everything up for each mission so they could use planets as slingshots.

Just kind of worked out that 2's planets were lining up earlier.

[hatrack]

14. Wonderful, wonderful PBS/NOVA episode all about Voyager

Available online:

https://www.pbs.org/video/the-farthest-voyager-in-space-qpbu4y/

[pecosbob]

15. In a few hundred years some salvage company will lay claim to it as interstellar space junk

That gold recording will be a real collector's item one day.

[hunter]

16. Some future Robert Ballard will find them again...

... if we manage to keep our civilization intact.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ballard

[mitch96]

18. I think it's neat it took a family photo of us.. Our pale blue dot...nt

[BadGimp]

19. V GER

[moniss]

22. Perhaps they should

have consulted with this Acme company since they seem quite diversified in products for space.

[Hekate]

23. Nooooooo!

Why?

[JHB]

24. Because keeping things going requires electrical power, and they're in the endgame for that...

...for reasons other people have gone into upthread.

Stuff/Sh*t happens when you're millions of miles from resupply.

[Hekate]

29. Sigh. Long may Voyager drift through space.

[ruet]

26. This Is Surprising Actually.

The headline is more than a bit misleading. NASA has said they could optimize the power usage on, at least Voyager I, to last until 2025. To see that they now expect them to be able to go to, at least, 2030 is awesome.

[Xolodno]

30. Don't dispair.

The New Horizons probe will probably overtake them and explore further. Both Voyager and Pioneer have lived far longer than expected.

But for now, the focus is on the Moon, Mars and possibly Venus. As they present the best opportunity for colonization and/or Tera Forming....which is still a long way off.

Barring the discovery of folding space, creating "worm holes", etc. cheaply. We are not going to be able venture past our Solar System...well, in the near future.

But then again, who knows, science isn't religion, it changes with new evidence. We could very well crack something that turns everything on its head.