Space exploration has long been a gateway to understanding our universe and the solar system we inhabit. However, to maximize our discoveries, we must efficiently manage the satellites, probes, and machinery operating in outer space. This is especially true for instruments like the Voyager spacecraft, which continue to explore the farthest reaches of our solar system. Recently, NASA made the decision to shut down certain scientific instruments on its Voyager mission to extend the spacecrafts' operational lifespans. But how, why, and how often does this happen?

On February 25, NASA turned off the cosmic ray subsystem experiment aboard Voyager 1, and on March 24, it plans to shut down Voyager 2’s low-energy charged particle instrument. Despite these shutdowns, three science instruments will continue operating on each spacecraft. These steps are part of NASA’s ongoing effort to manage the Voyagers' gradually diminishing power supply. The probes rely on a plutonium-based power source, which decays over time, leading to an annual loss of approximately 4 watts of power.

More power reductions are planned to keep the Voyagers operational for as long as possible. The next scheduled shutdown will occur in 2026, when Voyager 2’s cosmic ray subsystem will be deactivated. After that, additional instruments will likely be turned off gradually, with the goal of extending the mission into the 2030s. Eventually, the spacecraft will no longer be able to collect and transmit scientific data from interstellar space. However, even after all instruments are powered down, both Voyagers will continue drifting through space, serving as silent ambassadors of human exploration.

This strategic approach to power conservation is crucial, as the Voyager probes remain the only spacecraft to have ever operated in interstellar space, beyond the Sun’s heliosphere. By carefully managing their energy, scientists hope to maximize the valuable data they provide for years to come.

Have you ever seen an eclipse? Though rare and occurring only twice a year, eclipses can be observed from specific locations and predicted in advance. However, whether you can actually see one depends on timing and location, as eclipses last only a few minutes and happen roughly once per year. Thanks to new technology, artificial eclipses can now be created and viewed anytime and anywhere. The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently launched two spacecraft as part of its Proba-3 mission to achieve this.

Launched from India on December 5th, the two spacecraft fly in a lockstep formation, maintaining a fixed distance of 144 meters in space. This setup allows for the creation of on-demand eclipses, enabling researchers to study the sun’s corona—the outermost layer of its atmosphere. Scientists aim to understand how solar wind is accelerated and why the corona is significantly hotter than the sun's surface.

One satellite will block the sun from the perspective of the other, simulating a solar eclipse. The observing satellite will capture high-resolution images of the innermost parts of the sun’s atmosphere and send them back to Earth. Proba-3 can create eclipses lasting up to six hours, providing a unique opportunity to observe the corona’s movements and changes over time. Over its two-year mission, scientists expect to produce more than 1,000 artificial eclipses.

This precision satellite technology may also benefit future missions by linking telescopes to create larger, more effective instruments than currently possible. Proba-3’s observations are set to advance solar research and lay the groundwork for a new decade of exploration.

In conclusion, Proba-3 will not only provide artificial eclipses for eager onlookers but will also significantly enhance our understanding of the sun and its atmosphere.