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Here's how it works. 1. Missions Voyager 1 is back online! NASA's most distant spacecraft returns data from all 4 instruments News By Stefanie Waldek published 14 June 2024 The spacecraft has resumed full science operations after a technical issue began creating complications in November 2023. * * * * * * * Comments (4) artwork of voyager 1 spacecraft in black space background (Image credit: NASA) All right, everyone -- we can all breathe a sigh of relief. NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft is fully operational once more, with all four science instruments returning usable data to Earth. The problems began in November 2023, when Voyager 1 lost its ability to "speak" with us. More specifically, it started sending to Earth unintelligible data instead of its normal 0s and 1s of binary code. Of course, Voyager 1 is 46 years old -- ancient for a spacecraft -- so it wasn't entirely a surprise that its health might be waning. And that's not to mention that it's in entirely uncharted interstellar territory, some 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth. Voyager 1's dogged team was determined to not only figure out what went wrong, but also to fix the problem. And they've succeeded! Controllers identified where the issue was located: the flight data subsystem (FDS), used to "package" data to be sent to Earth. Further sleuthing revealed the exact chip causing the problem, which allowed them to find a workaround. After the team relocated the code to a new location in the FDS, Voyager 1 finally sent back intelligible data on April 20, 2024 -- but only from two of its four science instruments. Now, just two months later, Voyager 1's remaining two science instruments are back up and running, communicating effectively with mission control on Earth. Even if Voyager 1 had gone dark for good, however, the mission would still have been a wild success. After it launched in 1977, its primary mission was to study Jupiter and Saturn -- that was accomplished by 1980. (Its twin spacecraft, Voyager 2, went on to study Uranus and Neptune.) But Voyager 1 is on an unstoppable path. Continuing its journey away from Earth, the spacecraft entered interstellar space in 2012, returning crucial data about this mysterious realm. Related Stories: -- Voyager: 15 incredible images of our solar system (gallery) -- Scientists' predictions for the long-term future of the Voyager Golden Records will blow your mind -- Ed Stone, who led NASA's iconic Voyager project for 50 years, dies at 88 Now that Voyager 1 is back online, the team will continue to "touch up" the spacecraft to get it back in top form, including resynchronizing its timekeeping software to execute commands at the right time, as well as performing maintenance on the digital tape recorder that measures plasma waves. And hopefully, Voyager 1 will have a long, happy life ahead. Breaking space news direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! [ ][ ]Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands[ ]Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors[Sign me up] By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Social Links Navigation Contributing writer Space.com contributing writer Stefanie Waldek is a self-taught space nerd and aviation geek who is passionate about all things spaceflight and astronomy. With a background in travel and design journalism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, she specializes in the budding space tourism industry and Earth-based astrotourism. In her free time, you can find her watching rocket launches or looking up at the stars, wondering what is out there. Learn more about her work at www.stefaniewaldek.com. More about missions a spend rocket stage hangs upside down in the black of space. Private space-junk-inspection probe spots discarded rocket in orbit up close (photo) A gif showing a yellow-wrapped spacecraft with solar-panel wings in space. 'Absolutely gutted': How a jammed door is locking astronomers out of the X-ray universe Latest a giant blazing star hangs in the black of space, burning vibrant yellow and dark orange. A small planet sits to the right, just below the star's equator. Could nearby stars have habitable exoplanets? NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory hopes to find out See more latest > See all comments (4) [ ] 4 Comments Comment from the forums * richlightyear Having traveled 15 billion miles, it is now still only .0025 light years away. The universe is a pretty big place. Reply * CrispyBokeh Oh, I didn't know. I thought it was pretty much at the edge of the universe already, and that space was tiny Reply * billslugg Voyager 1 is at the edge of the explored universe. Space is tiny until Dad makes you shuck enough sweet corn to fill a bushel basket. Reply * CrispyBokeh billslugg said: Voyager 1 is at the edge of the explored universe. Space is tiny until Dad makes you shuck enough sweet corn to fill a bushel basket. I was being sarcastic to the first comment. But also, no, it's not at the edge of the explored universe - unless you mean with a physical spacecraft. JWST has explored far further. 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