NASA Disables Voyager 1's LECP Instrument to Conserve Power for Extended Mission
By
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Summary
NASA engineers have shut down the Low-energy Charged Particles (LECP) instrument on Voyager 1 to conserve power and extend the spacecraft's operational life. The LECP had been operating continuously since Voyager 1's launch in 1977, measuring low-energy charged particles in space. This decision represents a strategic trade-off to keep the historic interstellar spacecraft functioning as its nuclear power source diminishes over time.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe nuclear-powered spacecraft is running low on power, and turning off the LECP is considered the best way to keep humanity's first interstellar explorer going.
The LECP has been operating almost without interruption since Voyager 1 launched in 1977 — almost 49 years.
On April 17, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands to shut down an instrument aboard Voyager 1 called the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment, or LECP.
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