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NASA Faces Challenges with Aging Voyager Spacecraft Code and Diminishing Expertise

NASA Faces Challenges with Aging Voyager Spacecraft Code and Diminishing Expertise

NASA continues to operate the Voyager spacecraft using software written in a 1970s-era programming language that is now largely obsolete. The spacecraft rely on assembly language for their onboard computers, which were designed for General Electric processors from the early 1970s. The challenge is compounded by the fact that the engineers who originally developed this software are no longer available, and the documentation has been lost or fragmented over the years. The current team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is tasked with maintaining these systems, but they face difficulties due to the specialized nature of the programming and the aging hardware. The Voyager mission, which began in 1977, has seen its team shrink and age, with much of the original knowledge base eroding over time.
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NASA Engineers Manage Voyager 1's Power to Extend Mission Beyond Heliopause

NASA Engineers Manage Voyager 1's Power to Extend Mission Beyond Heliopause

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has taken steps to extend the operational life of Voyager 1, a spacecraft launched in 1977, by shutting down the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment. This decision, made on April 17, 2026, is part of a strategic plan to manage the spacecraft's dwindling power supply, which decreases by about four watts annually due to the decay of its plutonium-238 power source. Currently, Voyager 1 operates with two scientific instruments: the Plasma Wave Subsystem and the magnetometer, which continue to send data from beyond the heliosphere. The spacecraft's power management is crucial as it approaches a milestone of being one light-day away from Earth by November 2026.
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NASA Accelerates Mars Relay Contract Amid Aging Infrastructure Concerns

NASA Accelerates Mars Relay Contract Amid Aging Infrastructure Concerns

NASA Accelerates Mars Relay Contract Amid Aging Infrastructure Concerns
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NASA Releases 2026 State-of-the-Art Report on Small Spacecraft Technologies

NASA Releases 2026 State-of-the-Art Report on Small Spacecraft Technologies

NASA's Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute has published the 2026 State-of-the-Art report on small spacecraft technologies. The report highlights rapid advancements in SmallSat technology, driven by improvements in materials, power systems, avionics, and communications. These developments are enabling a new class of spacecraft that bridge the gap between traditional CubeSats and larger satellites. The report notes a significant transformation in small satellite technologies, moving from experimental platforms to highly capable systems that can operate in demanding environments.
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SpaceX Prepares to Launch Record-Breaking Starship for NASA's Artemis Program

SpaceX Prepares to Launch Record-Breaking Starship for NASA's Artemis Program

SpaceX is set to launch an upgraded version of its Starship rocket, which will be the tallest and most powerful rocket in history. This launch is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2028. The Starship, consisting of an upper stage and a Super Heavy lower stage, has undergone significant revisions, including new Raptor engines and enhanced heat-resistant tiles. The upcoming test flight will be a critical step in verifying the design for the Human Lander System, which SpaceX plans to use for lunar missions.
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Discovered in Pre-Official Images

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Discovered in Pre-Official Images

Astronomers have identified interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in images taken by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory before its official discovery by the ATLAS network. The comet, first officially identified on July 1, 2025, was captured by Rubin's telescope during its science validation phase. The discovery highlights the observatory's potential to detect interstellar objects. Joint observations by spacecraft, including ESA's JUICE and NASA's Europa Clipper, have provided additional data on the comet's composition and activity.
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NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, May 14 (Reuters) - NASA's Psyche probe was headed for a close encounter with Mars on Friday and a planned gravity boost to set the spacecraft on its final course to the solar system's largest known metallic asteroid, thought to be the remnant core of an ancient
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NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Trajectory Adjustment and Instrument Testing

NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Trajectory Adjustment and Instrument Testing

NASA's Psyche mission, launched in 2023, is on a 2.2-billion-mile journey to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, expected to arrive in August 2029. As part of its trajectory, the spacecraft is performing a gravity assist flyby of Mars, which will increase its speed and align it with the asteroid's orbit. During this maneuver, the mission team is also testing the spacecraft's instruments and collecting scientific data. The Psyche spacecraft will pass approximately 2,800 miles above Mars, capturing images and data that will help refine its instruments for the asteroid encounter. The mission aims to study the asteroid's surface and composition, potentially revealing insights into the early solar system.
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NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures New Selfie on Mars, Showcasing Jezero Crater

NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures New Selfie on Mars, Showcasing Jezero Crater

NASA's Perseverance rover has sent back a new selfie from Mars, taken at a location known as 'Lac de Charmes.' The image, released by NASA, was created using 61 separate photos captured by the WATSON camera on the rover's robotic arm. This marks the sixth selfie taken by Perseverance since its landing on Mars on February 18, 2021. The selfie shows the rover's mast focused on a rocky outcrop, with the western rim of Jezero Crater visible in the background. The rover is currently engaged in its fifth science campaign, the Northern Rim Campaign, exploring scientifically compelling terrain.
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NASA's Psyche spacecraft buzzing Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft buzzing Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid

A NASA spacecraft chasing a rare metal asteroid is swinging past Mars for a gravity boost
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NASA and SpaceX Reschedule ISS Resupply Mission Due to Weather

NASA and SpaceX Reschedule ISS Resupply Mission Due to Weather

NASA and SpaceX have rescheduled the launch of the 34th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to May 15, 2026, due to inclement weather. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon spacecraft, will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission was initially planned for an earlier date but was postponed due to anvil cloud launch violations. The Dragon spacecraft will deliver essential supplies, scientific experiments, and equipment to the ISS, supporting ongoing research and operations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
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NASA Develops Advanced AI Space Chip to Enhance Spacecraft Autonomy

NASA Develops Advanced AI Space Chip to Enhance Spacecraft Autonomy

NASA is advancing its space exploration capabilities with the development of a new AI-powered computer chip designed to significantly enhance the intelligence and performance of future spacecraft. This initiative, part of NASA's High Performance Spaceflight Computing project, aims to create a processor that can operate independently during missions far from Earth. The new chip, developed in collaboration with Microchip Technology Inc., is expected to deliver up to 100 times the computing power of current spaceflight computers. It is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space, including intense electromagnetic radiation and temperature fluctuations. Testing of the chip, which began in February at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has shown promising results, with performance levels reportedly 500 times greater than existing radiation-hardened chips.