The command was transmitted on 17 April by specialists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, directing the spacecraft to shut down its Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) instrument. The move is part of a carefully managed effort to conserve dwindling electrical power aboard the nuclear-powered probe, which has been operating for nearly five decades.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is now travelling through interstellar space far beyond the edge of the sun’s influence, more than 24 billion kilometres from Earth. Its power source, a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, gradually produces less electricity each year, forcing mission engineers to make tough decisions about which systems can remain active.
The LECP instrument had run almost continuously since launch, making it one of the longest-operating scientific instruments in history. It was designed to measure low-energy charged particles such as ions, electrons and cosmic rays, helping scientists map the boundary between our solar system and the wider galaxy.
Data from LECP has been central to understanding the interstellar medium, the sparse mix of particles and magnetic fields that exists between stars. It has allowed researchers to detect changes in particle density and pressure waves beyond the heliosphere, offering rare insights into a region that remains largely unexplored.
Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft ever to have reached this distant frontier, making their continued operation a top priority for scientists.
The decision to shut down LECP was not made lightly. According to NASA, engineers and scientists mapped out a long-term “power-down” strategy years ago, ranking instruments in order of scientific priority and energy consumption. The goal has been to preserve the spacecraft’s most critical capabilities for as long as possible.
Each Voyager probe originally carried 10 instruments, though not all were identical. Over time, systems have been progressively switched off as available power has declined. With the latest shutdown, seven instruments on Voyager 1 have now been retired.
A similar step was taken with Voyager 2, which had its own LECP instrument powered down in March 2025 as part of the same conservation strategy.
Despite the gradual loss of instruments, both spacecraft continue to send valuable data back to Earth, albeit with a communications delay of more than 22 hours each way due to the immense distance involved.
NASA engineers estimate that, if power is carefully managed, the Voyagers could continue operating into the early 2030s. Beyond that point, the spacecraft will likely fall silent, continuing their journey through the galaxy as drifting relics of humanity’s first venture into interstellar space.
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