NASA engineers have successfully implemented a power-saving operation called the 'Big Bang' to extend the operational life of Voyager 2, a spacecraft nearly 50 years old. The mission, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, involved simultaneously shutting down non-essential power-hungry hardware and switching to lower-power alternatives while maintaining the spacecraft's temperature to ensure functionality. This effort has freed up enough power to keep Voyager 2's three remaining scientific instruments operational for at least one additional year. The Voyagers rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which produce electricity from decaying plutonium, but their power supply diminishes by about 4 watts annually. Since 2024, the team has had to disable two science instruments on each Voyager to conserve energy. Without the 'Big Bang' initiative, another instrument would have been turned off by the end of 2026. NASA plans to apply the same power-saving strategy to Voyager 1, which is farther from Earth. This development highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining long-distance space missions and the ingenuity required to prolong their scientific contributions.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006 and famously flown by Pluto in 2015, has resumed scientific operations after emerging from a planned hibernation mode. The probe, now 5.9 billion miles from Earth, awakened on June 23, 2026, after entering a dormant state on August 7, 2025. Engineers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory confirmed the spacecraft is in excellent condition and transmitting data collected during its long sleep. The mission is now studying the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy trans-Neptunian objects, to understand planetary formation. New Horizons is analyzing the rotation, orientation, and shape of these bodies, revealing that paired, snowman-shaped objects like Arrokoth are more common than expected. This data could shed light on how planets form from dust and pebbles. Additionally, the probe is measuring gas distribution in the outer heliosphere and cosmic rays, providing insights into solar system shielding. The Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter also detected unexpected dust levels beyond the Kuiper Belt, challenging existing models. This mission continues to expand our knowledge of the solar system's outer regions.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which famously explored Pluto in 2015, has successfully emerged from a 321-day hibernation period after traveling six billion miles from Earth. The probe, launched in 2006, is now resuming its mission to study the outer solar system, including the Kuiper Belt. Scientists are eager to analyse data collected during its dormant phase, which includes measurements of space dust, solar wind, and energetic particles. The spacecraft's awakening marks a critical milestone, as it will continue its journey to investigate the heliosphere and potential distant objects. Mission managers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory confirmed the spacecraft's systems are functioning optimally, with all status reports indicating 'green' conditions. Future operations will involve retrieving stored data and conducting instrument checkouts, while upgrades to ground software aim to streamline maintenance. New Horizons, already a pioneer in space exploration, is expected to remain operational until the end of the decade, contributing valuable insights into the formation of the universe and the composition of the Kuiper Belt.

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