---
title: "NASA Saves Voyager 1 from Loss: Big Bang Operation Frees Up 10W, But Probe Goes Dark for Two Days"
description: "In September 2026, NASA completed the Big Bang operation on Voyager 1, freeing up 10W of power and extending the probe's scientific lifespan by years. However, on October 18–19, the spacecraft went dark for two days due to an automatic safe-mode transition."
date: 2026-10-31T17:23:24.967Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nasa-voyager-1-big-bang-operation-life-extension
tags: [voyager-1, nasa, deep-space, space-exploration, rtg, interstellar, big-bang-operation]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# NASA Saves Voyager 1 from Loss: Big Bang Operation Frees Up 10W, But Probe Goes Dark for Two Days

![Interplanetary probe Voyager in open space against a purple nebula background](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/31/nasa-voyager-1-big-bang-operacia-prodlenie-zhizni/nasa-voyager-1-big-bang-operacia-prodlenie-zhizni-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The Big Bang operation on Voyager 1 was completed in September 2026: replacing three heaters freed up 10W of power
- On October 18–19, 2026, the probe's signal was twice undetected by DSN; communications were restored on October 20
- The cause of the attitude control thruster group shutdown, which triggered the safe-mode transition, remains undetermined
- Without Big Bang, the next scientific instrument would have had to be shut down in the summer of 2027
- On November 18, 2026, Voyager 1 will reach the milestone of one light-day from Earth (25.89 billion km)

In September 2026, NASA completed an operation on the interstellar probe Voyager 1 designated by the agency as 'Big Bang'. The procedure involved replacing three more power-hungry thruster fuel line heaters with three less power-hungry ones, freeing up approximately 10 watts of electrical power. At first glance, this is a routine reconfiguration; however, failing to switch the six devices simultaneously risked disrupting the spacecraft's thermal balance and rendering it inoperable. The operation marked the final stage of a campaign initiated in July 2026 with a similar reconfiguration of Voyager 2—the closer Earth twin, where engineers first tested the algorithm.

### Why 10 Watts Decide the Fate of the Scientific Program

Both Voyagers are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert the heat from the decay of plutonium-238 into electricity. As the fuel naturally decays, the available power decreases by about 4 watts annually. Over nearly 50 years of flight, the spacecrafts' power capabilities have significantly diminished, forcing engineers to sequentially shut down heaters and scientific instruments. Initially, each probe was equipped with ten scientific instruments: some were turned off after the giant planet flybys concluded, and two more Voyager 1 instruments had to be shut down in recent years due to power shortages. Without the Big Bang operation, the next scientific instrument would have had to be turned off as early as the summer of 2027. This would be highly undesirable, as Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are the only human-made spacecraft directly exploring the interstellar medium, and every additional year of operation there is invaluable to science.

### Two Days of Silence: Signal Lost, Then Recovered

Initially, everything proceeded normally after the transition to the new heaters. However, on October 18 and 19, 2026, NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) twice failed to detect Voyager 1's radio signal within a 24-hour interval. For operators, this is a particularly tense situation: the signal takes nearly a day to travel in one direction, and in the event of communication loss, forced waiting does not add to anyone's enthusiasm. Fortunately, the signal reappeared on October 20, and communications have since normalized. A preliminary investigation revealed that one group of attitude control thrusters shut down, after which backup thrusters automatically engaged. Such switching is provided by the fault protection system: upon detecting an anomaly, onboard computers place the spacecraft into a safe state and suspend routine operations. Engineers have not yet determined why the thruster group shut down.

### 24 Billion Kilometers and the Path to a Light-Day

Voyager 1 has traveled 4 billion km further from Earth than its twin and is located at a distance of about 24 billion km from the planet. This is why the switching procedure was first tested on the closer spacecraft and only then implemented on the more distant one. Currently, the probe is moving at a speed of about 61,155 km/h and approaching a historic milestone: on November 18, 2026, its distance from Earth will reach 25.89 billion km—exactly one light-day. The agency intends to mark this event, and the XAB.info editorial team will also return to it in due course.

### What This Means for Science

The successful completion of the Big Bang operation on Voyager 1 means that both interstellar probes will retain at least a minimal set of scientific instruments for a few more years. The freed-up 10 watts allow for postponing the shutdown of the next instrument, thereby extending the period of direct measurements in the interstellar medium—a region humanity cannot yet explore by any other means. The two-day signal loss incident, while not catastrophic, serves as a reminder that at a distance where a round trip of communication takes nearly a day, even a routine automated safe-mode transition turns into a multi-day pause full of anxiety for the control team.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [NASA сумела продлить жизнь «Вояджеру-1» на годы, но в процессе едва не потеряло его window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1150682/nasa-sumela-prodlit-gizn-voyadgeru1-na-godi-no-v-protsesse-edva-ne-poteryalo-ego) - The primary source contains all key facts: operation date (September 2026), 10W power release, signal loss on October 18–19, recovery on October 20, preliminary cause (attitude control thruster group shutdown), speed of 61,155 km/h, distance of ~24 billion km, and expected milestone of 25.89 billion km on November 18, 2026. No discrepancies with other sources were found.

## FAQ

### What is the Big Bang operation on Voyager 1?

It is a procedure to replace three more power-hungry thruster fuel line heaters with three less power-hungry ones. The operation freed up about 10 watts of electrical power and extended the probe's scientific mission by years.

### Why did Voyager 1 go dark for two days?

On October 18 and 19, 2026, NASA's Deep Space Network twice failed to detect the probe's signal. Preliminary investigation showed that one group of attitude control thrusters shut down, causing backup thrusters to automatically engage and the spacecraft to enter safe mode. The signal reappeared on October 20. The exact cause of the thruster group shutdown has not yet been established.

### How far is Voyager 1 from Earth currently?

At the time of publication, the probe is located at a distance of about 24 billion km from Earth. On November 18, 2026, this mark will reach 25.89 billion km—one light-day.

### What would happen if the Big Bang operation were not carried out?

Without freeing up 10 watts, Voyager 1's next scientific instrument would have had to be shut down as early as the summer of 2027 due to the ongoing annual power decline of the RTGs by ~4W.