“While shutting down a science instrument is not anybody’s preference, it is the best option available…Voyager 1 still has two remaining operating science instruments — one that listens to plasma waves and one that measures magnetic fields. They are still working great, sending back data from a region of space no other human-made craft has ever explored. The team remains focused on keeping both Voyagers going for as long as possible.”
–Statement by Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, regarding NASA’s decision to shut down the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment (LECP). The instrument measures low-energy charged particles, such as ions, electrons, and cosmic rays, helping NASA to better understand the region of space where Voyager 1 is located. The LECP was turned of on Voyager 2 back in March 2025.
Our Awesome Universe 