NASA Extends Voyager 2 Mission with Innovative Power Management
NASA has successfully extended the operational life of the Voyager 2 spacecraft, nearly 48 years after its launch. Engineers implemented a strategy known as the 'Big Bang,' which involves shutting down certain powered devices and replacing them with lower-power alternatives to conserve energy. This approach allows Voyager 2 to continue its mission until at least 2027, despite the gradual depletion of its plutonium-based power source. The spacecraft, powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators, loses about 4 watts of power annually. Without this intervention, NASA would have had to shut down one of Voyager 2's scientific instruments by the end of the year. 
