Interstellar Explorer Faces Limited Resources in Pursuit of Data

  • NASA turns off Voyager 2’s plasma science instrument due to dwindling power supplies
  • Voyager 2 is 12.8 billion miles from Earth and has been in interstellar space since 2018
  • Six of the initial 10 instruments have already been deactivated
  • Plasma science instrument provided data on charged particles and planetary magnetic fields
  • Data collection limited due to Voyager 2’s orientation
  • Voyager 1 also faces power conservation challenges
  • Both spacecraft powered by decaying plutonium, losing around 4 watts of power annually

NASA has turned off one of the science instruments on Voyager 2 due to decreasing power supplies as it explores interstellar space. The spacecraft, launched in 1977, left the solar system in 2018 and is currently 12.8 billion miles from Earth. It uses four instruments to study space beyond the heliosphere. With six of its initial ten instruments already deactivated, Voyager 2’s plasma science instrument was shut down to conserve power. The decision was influenced by limited data collection caused by the probe’s orientation and the fact that three cups collecting plasma stopped functioning after leaving the heliosphere. Both Voyager 1 and 2 are powered by decaying plutonium, losing around 4 watts of power annually.

Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about Voyager 2’s current status, its instruments, and the decision to turn off one of them due to power constraints. It also includes relevant background information about the spacecraft’s history and mission objectives.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant and informative content about Voyager 2’s situation and its scientific instruments. It discusses the challenges faced by NASA engineers in managing power supplies and making decisions to conserve energy for the spacecraft’s longevity. The information is accurate and based on official statements from NASA, making it a reliable source of news. However, it could have included more context about the significance of the plasma science instrument’s data or the implications of its deactivation on future research.
Public Companies: NASA (N/A)
Key People: Ed Stone (Led NASA’s Voyager project)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft and its dwindling power supplies, which led to turning off one of its science instruments. This does not pertain to financial topics nor does it impact financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in this article. The main topic discusses the deactivation of one of Voyager 2’s science instruments due to dwindling power supplies.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: No
Direction: Neutral
Magnitude: Small
Affected Instruments: Stocks

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