Hi, It’s Me: NASA’s Voyager 1 Phones Home From 15 Billion Miles Away
NASA’s Voyager 1 Probe Resolves Communication Glitch, Resumes Sending Data
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is mankind’s first spacecraft to enter the interstellar medium, the vast expanse of space beyond our solar system. After experiencing a glitch that disrupted its communication with Earth for several months, the venerable probe has now resumed transmitting usable information, NASA announced Monday.
The Mystery of the Gibberish
On November 14, 2023, Voyager 1 abruptly stopped sending readable data back to Earth. While controllers could still send commands to the probe, it was unable to properly package and transmit its scientific findings and engineering status.
Diagnosing the Problem
Concerned engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California spent months investigating the issue. They ultimately pinpointed the culprit: a malfunctioning chip within one of the probe’s three onboard computers, responsible for managing memory and data handling.
A Clever Coding Fix
Faced with the challenge of repairing a 46-year-old computer system from billions of miles away, the Voyager team devised a creative solution. They realized that while the damaged chip could not be fixed, they could relocate the affected code to other functioning parts of the computer’s memory.
Step-by-Step Recovery
The team meticulously divided the affected code into smaller sections. They then sent these sections to different locations in the memory, adjusting references and adjusting the code to ensure seamless integration.
First Contact in Five Months
On April 18, the team sent the first portion of the code to its new location. After a 45-hour delay for the signal to reach Voyager 1 and return, they received a response on April 20. The probe had successfully received the update and resumed sending health and status information back to Earth.
Restoring Science Data Soon
While Voyager 1 is now sending engineering data again, the process of relocating the remaining affected code is ongoing. Once complete, the probe will be able to resume transmitting its valuable scientific observations of the interstellar medium.
A Farewell to an Iconic Probe
With power banks expected to deplete sometime after 2025, Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, will continue their eternal journey through the Milky Way, silent and invisible, but forever carrying a piece of human ingenuity and exploration.
Mehek 
Deepika