NASA engineers have successfully restored communication with Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft in the cosmos. After five months of indecipherable data, the team employed a creative fix to overcome a communication glitch.
Voyager 1’s flight data system, which collects information and engineering data, experienced an issue in November 2023. The problem stemmed from a single chip that stores part of the system’s memory, including computer software code. While the cause of the chip failure remains unknown, it could be due to wear or a space particle impact.
To resolve the issue, the team opted to store the affected code elsewhere in the system’s memory. Given the immense distance of Voyager 1, it takes a radio signal 22.5 hours to reach the probe and another 22.5 hours for a response.
On April 20, Voyager 1 responded positively to the code modification, indicating readable engineering data could once again be received. The team will continue to relocate affected software parts, including those responsible for returning science data.
Despite Voyager 1’s advanced age and immense distance from Earth, the team remains optimistic about the mission’s longevity. Over the decades, the probe has provided valuable insights into our solar system and beyond, and the engineers continue to dedicate their knowledge to keep the mission going.
