Voyager 1 recovers after 48-hour signal loss
Voyager 1 lost contact with Earth for 48 hours beginning 20 October 2026, then resumed communication. Reports say the spacecraft is now past one light day from Earth after a September power-saving swap.
IllustrationThe story so far
In early September, engineers replaced three devices on Voyager 1 with lower-power alternatives, about six weeks after a similar swap on Voyager 2. On 20 October 2026, the probe's signal was not detected during two scheduled Deep Space Network contacts 24 hours apart. NASA said on 29 October that the unexpected loss resolved itself after 48 hours, before engineers had sent troubleshooting commands.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory later said a fix called the Big Bang restored contact, describing the swap as alternating three units, including two heaters and an 8-track digital tape recorder, with three low-power secondary options. The fix also helped put Voyager 1 past the one light-day mark, nearly 50 years after it left Earth.
Latest updates
3 updates · newest first- 6 NovNew development
Voyager 1 recovers after Big Bang fix ends 48-hour communications loss
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said a fix called the Big Bang restored contact with Voyager 1 after a 48-hour communications loss that began on October 20. The swap alternated three units, including two heaters and an 8-track digital tape recorder, with three low-power secondary options. The fix also helped put Voyager 1 past the one light-day mark.
Universe Today ↗
- 3 NovNew development
Voyager 1 nears one light day milestone after power work and outage
NASA's Voyager 1 is approaching a one light day milestone nearly 50 years after leaving Earth. In September, engineers completed a power saving upgrade that replaced three devices with alternatives that consume less electricity, and on October 20 the spacecraft resumed communication after a 48 hour interruption. The work is expected to extend the operating lives of its remaining instruments as its power supply slowly fades.
ScienceDaily ↗
- 29 OctNew development
Voyager 1 regains contact after 48-hour signal loss and switches to lower-power devices
NASA said on 29 October that an unexpected loss of communication with Voyager 1 on 20 October resolved itself after 48 hours, before engineers had sent any troubleshooting commands. The Deep Space Network did not detect the probe's signal during two scheduled contacts 24 hours apart. Voyager 1 is about 24 billion kilometres from Earth. In early September, engineers replaced three devices on the spacecraft with lower-power alternatives to stretch its shrinking power supply, about six weeks after making the same swap on Voyager 2.
NASA ↗
Space.com ↗