NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is facing a computer glitch that is disrupting communication between the probe and its mission team. Engineers are working to solve the issue as the aging spacecraft explores unexplored areas of the solar system. Voyager 1 is currently the farthest spacecraft from Earth, while its twin Voyager 2 has also traveled a significant distance. Both spacecraft have provided valuable insights about our solar system and beyond, despite their original mission lifespan of five years. Voyager 1’s flight data system is stuck on auto-repeat, and efforts to restart it have not yet been successful. NASA engineers are investigating the cause of the issue and determining the next steps. The Voyager team is relying on decades-old manuals to address the challenges faced by the aging spacecraft. It takes several hours for commands to reach Voyager 1, and the team must wait for a response. Despite encountering various issues, the Voyager probes continue their mission, with instruments being turned off to conserve power. The team hopes to restore the regular stream of data from Voyager 1, as its long duration is crucial for scientific analysis. The Voyager missions have surpassed expectations and are the longest-operating spacecraft in history, but issues are expected to arise as they continue their remarkable journeys.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/world/voyager-1-computer-issue-scn/index.html