# NASA power changes extend Voyager 2 science operations

_Monday, August 17, 2026 at 6:33 AM EDT · Science, Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

NASA engineers reduced Voyager 2's power use through a coordinated change that shut down certain powered devices and replaced them with lower-electricity alternatives.

The spacecraft loses about 4 watts of power each year as its radioisotope generators decline. NASA says the conserved power should let Voyager 2's three remaining science instruments operate for at least one additional year; without the change, another instrument would have been shut down before the end of 2026.

The team plans a similar change for Voyager 1 in coming months.

## Sources

- [SciTechDaily](https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-just-found-a-clever-way-to-keep-voyager-2-alive-in-deep-space/)

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Retrieved: 2026-08-17T17:44:59.811Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)