Voyager 2 has successfully switched to the backup set of thrusters that controls the roll of the spacecraft, according to a press release from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Deep Space Network personnel sent commands to Voyager 2 on November 4 to make the change and received confirmation yesterday that the switch has been made.
Voyager 2 spacecraft (NASA)
The change allows engineers to reduce the amount of power that the 34-year-old spacecraft needs to operate by turning off the heater that keeps the fuel to the primary thrusters warm. Although the rate of energy generated by Voyager 2’s nuclear power source continues to decline, by reducing its power requirements, engineers expect the spacecraft can continue to operate for another decade.
The switch also allows the spacecraft to use previously unused thrusters as it continues its journey toward interstellar space, beyond our solar system.
Voyager 2 is equipped with six sets, or pairs, of thrusters to control the pitch, yaw and roll motions of the spacecraft. These include three pairs of primary thrusters and three backup, or redundant, pairs. The spacecraft is now using all three sets of backup thrusters.
Voyager 2 is currently located about 14 billion kilometers (9 billion miles) from Earth in the heliosheath.
