NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, nearly 15 billion miles from Earth, has reactivated a radio transmitter that had not been used since 1981, in a rare achievement for space exploration. Engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully sent a series of commands to the aging probe, reestablishing contact through a transmitter that was believed to be dormant. This breakthrough comes as part of ongoing efforts to maintain the Voyager mission, which has provided critical data on interstellar space since its launch in 1977. Originally designed to last just five years, Voyager 2 has far exceeded expectations, and its recent transmitter activation showcases its enduring functionality despite its age and distance. As one of the most distant human-made objects, Voyager 2’s resilience continues to offer scientists invaluable insights into the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond.
