NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) deactivated the Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) experiment on Voyager 1. The shutdown was made necessary due to the spacecraft’s dwindling nuclear power supply, with the goal of extending the probe’s operational life in interstellar space.
The LECP had been operating continuously for approximately 49 years, active since the launch of the spacecraft in 1977.
The move was motivated by the dwindling supply of nuclear-powered spacecraft, with mission managers stating that disabling the LECP provided the best path to keep the probe operational.
The instrument was designed to track ions, electrons and cosmic rays from both our solar system and the wider galaxy.
As the farthest probes from Earth, the twin Voyagers are the only unique instruments capable of gathering this specific class of interstellar data.
“Although turning off a science instrument is no one’s preference, it is the best option available,” said Kareem Badruddin, Voyager mission manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
“Voyager 1 still has two remaining operating science instruments – one that listens for plasma waves and one that measures magnetic fields. They’re still doing great work, sending back data from a region of space that no other manned spacecraft has ever explored. The team is focused on keeping both Voyagers running for as long as possible.”
It provided important data on the interstellar medium, particularly detecting pressure fronts and particle density variations beyond the heliosphere.
The shutdown was not an emergency response but followed a pre-planned hierarchy designed to preserve critical science equipment. Currently, two original instrument sets are active on Voyager 1.
According to engineers, the shutdown of the Low-Energy Charged Particles experiment will allow Voyager 1 to fly with its remaining functional instruments for about another year.
The move follows a similar shutdown of the LECP on Voyager 2 in March 2025. These sacrifices are part of a broader strategy to keep Voyager 1 functional as it continues its journey into the interstellar void.
Extending the mission in this manner could allow Voyager 1 to reach its 50th anniversary in 2027. As a result, Voyager 1 holds the distinction of being the most distant spacecraft ever built, traveling further away from the Sun with each passing year.
