NASA extends Voyager probes' life into 2030s

NASA is turning off scientific instruments on the Voyager spacecraft to extend their operational life. The probes, launched in 1977, are now 15 billion miles from Earth and are running low on power from their plutonium sources. The Voyagers have traveled through the outer planets and into interstellar space over the past 47 years. To conserve energy, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are gradually shutting down some data-gathering tools. This power-saving measure aims to keep the spacecraft operational into the 2030s. The decision reflects the challenges of maintaining functionality as their power sources continue to deplete.