NASA’s Voyager 1 Resumes Scientific Operations, Despite Recent Technical Issue, as the Farthest Spacecraft from Earth

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, recently experienced a technical issue that caused it to stop sending back usable data in November 2023. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California announced that the spacecraft’s four scientific instruments are now back in operation after resolving the computer problem.

The team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory first received meaningful information from Voyager 1 in April and has since commanded the spacecraft to resume sending science data. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is currently exploring interstellar space, which is the space between star systems. Its twin spacecraft, Voyager 2, is functioning normally.

With the successful resolution of the technical issue, Voyager 1 continues its mission to explore and gather data from the far reaches of space. Its ability to send back valuable scientific information is crucial in expanding our understanding of the universe beyond our solar system.