The artist’s rendering of NASA’s Voyager 1 shows the spacecraft journeying through the interstellar medium, the expanse between stars, a realm it entered in 2012. Its sibling spacecraft, Voyager 2, followed suit in 2018. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA’s team behind the Voyager mission is actively working to prolong the operational life of the two spacecraft. Their current focus includes mitigating issues related to thruster fuel accumulation and applying a software update designed to correct a previously identified glitch in Voyager 1.
These initiatives aim to extend the operational longevity of NASA’s space vehicles exploring beyond our solar system.
Engineers associated with NASA’s Voyager mission are implementing measures to ensure that the two spacecraft, launched in 1977, maintain their capacity to explore the interstellar medium for the foreseeable future.
One of these measures is targeted at reducing fuel residue, which has been building up inside narrow propellant inlet tubes of some of the thrusters. These thrusters serve the critical function of orienting each spacecraft’s antenna towards Earth. Similar residue accumulation has been noticed in a few other space missions as well.
Concurrently, a software update is being uploaded to avert the repetition of a specific malfunction that affected Voyager 1 in the past year. The update is designed to ensure that this issue neither recurs in Voyager 1 nor manifests in Voyager 2.
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Thruster Residue Mitigation
The thrusters of both Voyager spacecraft are primarily tasked with keeping the antennas oriented towards Earth to facilitate communication. The spacecraft can undergo rotation in three axes—vertical, horizontal, and axial. During such movements, thrusters are automatically activated to reposition the spacecraft, ensuring continuous Earth-facing orientation.
Fuel reaches these thrusters through external fuel lines and then navigates through significantly narrower internal tubes known as propellant inlet tubes. Each activation of the thrusters leaves minuscule amounts of fuel residue, leading to gradual material accumulation over extended periods. In some cases, this buildup has become considerable. To counteract this, mission protocols now allow the spacecraft to rotate slightly more before thruster activation, effectively reducing the number of thruster firings.
These modifications, implemented in September and October, permit almost one extra degree of rotation in each direction compared to previous limits. Additionally, the mission strategy now includes fewer but longer thruster activations, thereby reducing the overall firing count.
These alterations have been meticulously planned to have a minimal adverse effect on the mission’s objectives. Although increased rotation could occasionally result in minor data loss, the overall data return is expected to improve over time.
The engineering team anticipates that these precautionary steps will delay the complete clogging of the propellant inlet tubes for at least another five years, potentially much longer. Further countermeasures could be taken in upcoming years to prolong the thrusters’ operational life even more.
Software Update and Risk Mitigation
In 2022, Voyager 1’s onboard computer, responsible for orientation with Earth, began transmitting unclear status reports while still functioning normally otherwise. A thorough investigation revealed that the Attitude Articulation and Control System (AACS) was misrouting commands, causing them to be stored in the computer’s memory instead of being executed. This misrouting led to the garbling of status reports.
While the exact cause remains undetermined, a software patch has been developed to prevent a recurrence of the problem. Due to the communication latency and the spacecraft’s age, uploading the patch entails some risk, including the potential to overwrite essential code. Extensive review and testing have been conducted to minimize this risk. Voyager 2 will receive the update first to act as a test subject for its more distant twin, Voyager 1.
The patch is scheduled for upload on Friday, October 20, followed by a verification process. If no immediate issues surface, a final check will be carried out on Saturday, October 28, to confirm the patch is functioning as intended.
Additional Information on the Voyager Mission
Originally planned to last just four years, the Voyager mission aimed to explore Saturn and Jupiter. It was subsequently extended, with Voyager 2 journeying to Uranus and Neptune. Another extension in 1990 set the probes on a course beyond the heliosphere, our Sun’s protective bubble, a milestone achieved by Voyager 1 in 2012 and Voyager 2 in 2018.
The construction and operation of the Voyager spacecraft are overseen by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of Caltech, under the umbrella of NASA’s Heliophysics System Observatory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Voyager spacecraft maintenance
What is the primary focus of NASA’s current efforts on the Voyager spacecraft?
The primary focus of NASA’s current efforts is to prolong the operational life of both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft. They are targeting two main areas: mitigating the buildup of thruster fuel residue and applying a software update to correct a previously identified glitch in Voyager 1.
What are the thruster issues being addressed?
The thrusters on the Voyager spacecraft have been accumulating fuel residue over time in their propellant inlet tubes. These thrusters are crucial for keeping the spacecraft’s antennas oriented towards Earth. NASA engineers are implementing measures to reduce the frequency of thruster firings, thereby slowing down the rate of residue buildup.
How is NASA resolving software issues?
NASA is uploading a software patch designed to prevent the recurrence of a specific malfunction that affected Voyager 1 in the past year. The patch is intended to ensure that this issue neither recurs in Voyager 1 nor manifests in Voyager 2.
What is the risk associated with the software patch?
Due to the age of the spacecraft and the communication latency, there is a risk that the software patch could overwrite essential code. To minimize this risk, extensive review and testing have been conducted. Voyager 2 will receive the update first to serve as a test subject for Voyager 1.
How long are the Voyager spacecraft expected to remain operational?
While it is not possible to determine an exact timeframe, the engineering team expects that the precautionary measures being taken will delay the complete clogging of the thruster propellant inlet tubes for at least another five years, possibly much longer.
What is the history and purpose of the Voyager mission?
Initially, the Voyager mission was planned to last four years and explore Saturn and Jupiter. It was subsequently extended for Voyager 2 to visit Uranus and Neptune. In 1990, another extension aimed to send the probes beyond the heliosphere, the Sun’s protective bubble. Voyager 1 achieved this milestone in 2012, followed by Voyager 2 in 2018.
Who is responsible for the construction and operation of the Voyager spacecraft?
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of Caltech, is responsible for the construction and operation of the Voyager spacecraft. The mission operates under the NASA Heliophysics System Observatory.
More about Voyager spacecraft maintenance
- NASA’s Official Voyager Mission Page
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- NASA Heliophysics System Observatory
- Understanding Spacecraft Thrusters and Propulsion
- Overview of Software Updates in Space Missions
8 comments
Wait, the Voyagers are from 1977? and they’re still operational? That’s some serious engineering.
Wow, it’s amazing that they can still fix and update spacecrafts that are billions of miles away. props to NASA engineers.
it’s like taking care of an old car but the car is in space. i wonder how many more years they can keep them going.
Software patches in space…never thought I’d see the day. Goes to show how far we’ve come in tech. Also, the risks involved are super high.
This is where our tax dollars should go. Real advancements in science and tech, not petty politics.
This is real-life star trek stuff happening right now. Super cool but also nerve-wracking given the high stakes.
Investing in space tech really pays off. These missions were intended for just 4 years and look how long they’ve lasted.
So what happens if a thruster gets completely clogged? Do we just lose communication, or is it more serious? Would love more info on that.